Alpha Edition

Alpha Edition
WARNING! This is a pre-production version of the core Beyond the Gates of Antares rule set produced for development
purposes. Up until now these rules have only been available to a select number of playtesters in the form of MS Word documents.
Thanks in large part to their valiant efforts, we now feel the rules are ready for the next stage of development.
We are therefore making the Alpha Edition rules available to any willing volunteers who wish to help out by participating in our
playtest program. To become an Alpha playtester all you have to do is sign up via the Beyond the Gates of Antares section of the
Warlord Games website. Please remember, at this stage the game is neither finished nor complete in its scope – though we hope
you will be helping us to do something about that, of which more below.
Rick Priestley, July 2014

So, is there enough
here to play a game?
The Alpha Edition provides all the rules
you need to play a game using the
forces described in the sample armies.
As such it includes rules for infantry
combat and various support weapons,
but it does not as yet provide rules for
vehicles or large machines.
Why are there no army lists?
Fixing points values and army lists is all
part of developing the game, so for now
we have worked out sample armies for
each of the four main forces described in
this edition. Players can reduce or add to
these by dropping or adding further units
to make forces that are smaller or larger.
How do I set up a game?
A single basic scenario is included just to
give you an idea of how games can be
set up and played, and how to establish
winners and losers. However, at this
stage we are relying on you to work out
for yourselves what makes a game
balanced or exciting.
You will need to be prepared to improvise
on occasion and to adjust sides and force
contents to ‘stress test’ the system. Don’t
expect everything to work perfectly all
the time– sometimes one side will walk
all over the other because of some
combination of troops or terrain.
Remember – this is why we playtest – it’s
not about winning or losing!
So, what’s next?
All you have to do is play games and let
us know what you think via the Beyond
the Gates of Antares Playtester’s Forum
on the Warlord website. We’d welcome
any input, but would especially value
short battle reports and, if possible, links
to pictures of games being played, as this
helps to put the game play into context.
Periodically, we’ll seek input on specific
aspects of play, especially when it
comes to new rules, scenarios, army
development and such like. Remember
– playtesting isn’t just about finding
snags or spotting potential problems –
Hansa Nairoba,
Freeborn Mercenary captain
painted by Calum Barr
it’s also about confirming what’s already
done and identifying positive aspects of
play that could use more emphasis.
Anything you are able to contribute is
helpful and appreciated; however, there
is no obligation; we are just as happy for
folks to sign up and check out the game
for themselves.
Will more rules be added?
We will be adding and tweaking rules
throughout the development period. To
keep up to speed with changes and
additions for the game you will need to
check out the Beyond the Gates of
Antares Playtesters Forum on the
Warlord website. We will be publishing
further playtest rules, errata and other
changes, and new forces as they
become ready.
Delicate suspensor fields are able to
give a holographic projection the
illusion of reality – replicating the
weight, texture and touch of an
actual object, machine or even living
creature. This common technology is
used to create graphic interfaces
that exist only as projections,
interfaces that can be readily
summoned at will and dismissed
when no longer required.

Written by Rick Priestley © Copyright Warlord Games Ltd. 2014. Beyond the Gates of Antares, Beyond the Gates of
Antares logo, Algoryn, Boromite, Lavamite, Isorian Shard, Concord, Ghar, NuHu and Freeborn
are trademarks of Warlord Games Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cover Artwork: Phil Moss No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any
form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise

www.warlordgames.com circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a
similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

2 Beyond the Gates of Antares

What about the other armies?
This Alpha Edition covers four armies:
the Panhuman Concord, the Isorian
Shard, the Algoryn Prosperate and the
Boromite Labour Guilds. Further armies
will be introduced as we go along, and
much depends on how we progress with
the model design.
When will the game be finished?
This stage of development is about
making sure the game system is nice and
solid, and developing the initial four
armies ahead of a general release. We are
aiming to produce a further updated
version of the rules, which will available
to download as a pdf directly from the
Warlord website towards the end of
2014. We will also make models available
for general release at the same time.
However, this will just be the start of the
game’s live development, part of which
will include the publication of a printed
rulebook and addition of further armies,
which will include plastic models,
vehicles and scenery.
Can I get hold of models
for playesting?
We won’t be releasing any models for
the Antares game until this phase of
play testing is over. That means you will
have to use proxy forces for now,
substituting whatever models you
already have for the forces described.
However, as models are finished we
always produce a small number of test
castings, which we will make available
to Alpha playtesters on a limited basis.

CONSTRUCTION
Only energy-starved and impoverished worlds continue to use the ancient
methods of plastcrete moulding and form extrusion to build material structures.
For the most part, human worlds enjoy a comparable and practically universal
technology that allows almost anything to be built from hyper-core materials and
a nano-field frame structure. Constructor drones build an invisible three-
dimensional field template, which serves as a base upon which hypermats are
fused from HMC cores of various types. Structures miles high can be built in this
way without human involvement, from sky pylons to habitation blocks, aerial
roadways and transmat arrays. Gravity defying structures are commonplace,
internal suspensors holding buildings aloft, and construction is so simple that
unfashionable or tired buildings can be effortlessly remade by reconstructing
their material cores and using the same HMC to build anew.

Alpha Edition 3
 Introductory Background
The Seventh Age
Humanity has spread throughout space,
to new worlds and distant galaxies, to
places and realities undreamt of by our
distant ancestors. Interplanetary
civilisations have flourished and fallen
six times over, collapsing and rising
anew over countless centuries.
Humankind’s first home – the planet
Earth – was destroyed long ago during
the forgotten wars of the Prime Imperia.
Of humanity’s early history, the
colonisation of space, and evolution into
numerous and diverse species, little is
now remembered. Today is The Seventh
Age: the last and greatest age of
humankind.
Antarean Space
No one knows for sure how many
worlds are inhabited by humans and the
4 Beyond the Gates of Antares
new species evolved from humans – the
diverse race of homo pansapiens or
‘pans’. Countless free and independent
worlds are home to their own human
populations. Other worlds are part of
larger inter-stellar societies. These
widely scattered planets are all
connected by means of a vast and
intricate network of spacial wormholes.
These wormholes make space travel
practical, facilitating trade,
communication and governance over
enormous inter-galactic distances. All
known wormholes intersect at one huge
nexus, a colossal inter-dimensional
machine that we recognise as the star
Antares. In reality Antares is no ordinary
star, but a construct of the archaic and
long-vanished race known as the
Builders. It is from this unimaginably
huge machine that we derive the
description Antarean Space –
encompassing all the many worlds
connected by the Antarean wormhole
network.
The Concord
The largest and most powerful
civilisation of the Seventh Age is The
Panhuman Concord comprising almost
a quarter of all the human worlds of
Antarean space. The ruling elites of this
society are New Humans or NuHu.
Hyper-intelligent, tall, and eerily
androgynous, the NuHu are the
undisputed Mandarins of the Panhuman
Concord. They are very few in number
and spread thinly amongst the vast
population of the Concord. What makes
the NuHu different from other humans
is that they have co-evolved with the
sentient integrated machine
intelligence – or IMTel - that controls all
aspects of Concord society. They are its
living symbiotic component,
simultaneously masters and slaves of an
all powerful, benign technocracy. All
worlds of the Concord are encased in a
nanosphere – a cloud of nanorobotic
machines that acts as a universal
medium of communication and micro-
energy transference. By this means
worlds and ultimately the whole
concord is run and directed by the data-
driven machine-minds of the IMTel and
its NuHu Mandarin elite.
The military of the Panhuman Concord
is organised and directed by a branch of
the IMTel called the Concord Combined
Command – otherwise known as CoCom
or more commonly as C3. The Concord
responds to threats against it with
logical ruthlessness, organising and
dispatching heavily armed forces
throughout Antarean space. C3 Strike
Units are recruited amongst all the
varied human worlds that make up the
Concord. Strike troopers are equipped
with heavy-duty plasma weaponry and
protected by hyper-light shielding, the
most advanced weaponry in all of
Antarean space. They are supported by
NuHu agents, and the entire and
considerable resources of the Concord
IMTel.
The Isorian Shard
In ages past the world of Isori stood at
the forefront of human civilisation,
renowned throughout all of Antarean
space for its pioneering dimensional
research, its vast fleets and its unrivalled
prosperity. According to Isorian legend,
the planet was amongst the first of
Earth’s settlements, the first to be fully
terraformed, and the first to establish its
own colonies independently of Earth
itself. Today the worlds of the Isorian
Shard are second only in number to
those of the Concord. Both civilisations
emerged from the ashes of the Sixth
Age. Both are integrated machine
societies ruled by cerebral NuHu elites.
Yet the two cultures are irreconcilably
opposed due to a strange quirk of fate
that created a root incompatibility in
their respective machine based IMTel.
With the temporary collapse of the
Antarean gate network at the end of the
Sixth Age, the world of Isori endured a
long period of isolation. Over the
following centuries the Isorians explored
local space using advanced near-light
speed spacecraft. They discovered and
then fought an inter-stellar war against
an alien race called the Tsan Kiri. The Isori
eventually triumphed, but during the
long war the Isorian IMTel absorbed a
portion of their enemy’s silicon-based
organic technology. When the Isorians
re-established contact with the rest of
Antarean space, their IMTel had become
so distinct that the two forms – or shards
as individual iterations of the IMTel are
called – failed to recognise each other.
They had become incompatible.
The Shard’s most important NuHu rulers
comprise the Isorian Senatex, and its
NuHu officials are called the Senatexis.
The Isorians share a great deal of the
same technology as the Concord, but
some of their Tsan Kiri derived
An Algoryn Armoured Infantry squad painted by Jo Bain
weaponry is unique. Like Concord Strike
Units, Isorian Phase Troopers are armed
with plasma weapons, but instead of
hyper-light shields they employ space
warping phase armour. Their ability to
merge biological with technical
equipment gives Isorian troops a distinct
and immediately recognisable
appearance.
The Algoryn Prosperate
There are millions of independent
human worlds belonging to small, self-
governing empires or federations. Some
of these societies are relatively primitive
whilst others are as technologically
advanced as those of the Concord and
Isorians. The Algoryn Prosperate is one
of the larger and amongst the most
advanced of these independent
federations. It is unfortunate to lie upon
the Antarean borders of three great
rivals: the Panhuman Concord, Isorian
Shard and Ghar Empire. Whilst the
Concord and Isorians ultimately pose
the greatest long-term threat to
Algoryn independence, all three
civilisations benefit from peaceful
trading contact. The Ghar, however, are
implacable foes: evolved from
genetically engineered slave-soldiers in
ages past, the Ghar believe themselves
to be the sole agents of divine will in the
material universe. The Algoryn and Ghar
have been engaged in unremitting
warfare for hundreds of years.
The Prosperate’s homeworld of Algorya
lies at the centre of twelve substantial
colonies, numerous outposts, several
staging planets and a few allied worlds
occupied by other panhuman species,
which altogether comprise the mutual
trading and defence pact called the
Prosperate. The Algoryn themselves are
panhumans of distinctive appearance.
They lack hair upon their heads, which
are instead covered with crest-like
keratinous growths. Similar nodules of
keratin form a thick scaly layer upon
their necks, shoulders and forearms.
This dense protective layer shields the
Algoryn against the harsh rays of the
twin suns of Algor, which periodically
bathe the planet of Algorya in
dangerous levels of heat and radiation.
Algoryn troopers are less lavishly
equipped than the Concord’s shock
troops or Isorian Shard phase troopers,
but their weaponry is practical and
effective, honed by years of warfare like
the Algoryn themselves. Troopers are
generally armed with mag guns, with
only a few carrying heavier plasma
based support weapons. Algoryn troops
are protected by reflex shields mounted
upon metallic plates: a useful general-
purpose armour that is both sturdy and
reliable.
Introductory Background
Section title 5
 Boromite work gang
The Boromite Labour Guilds
The Boromites are an extreme physical
morph amongst panhumans. At some
time in the past their ancestors were
bio-adapted to live and work upon
asteroids with thin atmospheres, low
gravity and extreme temperatures. They
are able to endure hostile environments
more easily than any other human, and
are amongst the toughest and most
unusual looking of all the countless
human morphs. They have thick, gnarly
hides covered in horny nodules.
Boromites originated in the mining
colonies of Borom where a rocky
asteroid belt extends around the
system’s star in lieu of other planets.
Today the Boromites have spread
through Antarean space and live upon
many worlds within the Panhuman
Concord, the Isorian Shard, and beyond.
They have no permanent settled worlds
of their own, but form an itinerant work
force with a strong cultural identity and
secretive customs based upon their
many Guilds. They avoid becoming
absorbed into the societies they live
amongst because they are almost
invisible to the sharded IMTels of
societies such as the Concord and
Isorians. They remain almost entirely
apart from regular society, a reclusive,
insular and self-governing sub-culture
wherever they happen to be.
Although they are spread throughout
Antarean space, Boromites maintain
strong contacts with each other via the
trading networks of the Freeborn.
Boromite labour gangs are but one of
the many human services traded by the
Vardos. Occasionally, Guilds will band
together to fight, most likely to secure
some mineral rich planet or scavenge
some lucrative wreck or abandoned
facility. Boromite forces are based upon
their work gangs, generally speaking
extended families, which belong to
competing labour Guilds. Guilds are
organised for self-protection and held
6 Beyond the Gates of Antares
together by insoluble ties of honour and
obligation. The leaders of these Guilds,
the secret core at the heart of the
extended clan, are aged and much
feared matriarchs. Amongst Boromites
it is the womenfolk who head up the
families and whose word is law. In some
respects Boromite Guilds have all the
hallmarks of organised criminal gangs,
and are behind many of the subversive
activities throughout Antarean space.
Rival Guilds sometimes get involved in
turf wars. Vendettas between old
enemies can last for generations, but all
will close ranks in the face of a common
foe – which is pretty much everyone else
as far as the Boromites are concerned.
Their hardiness and determination
make them highly valued mercenary
fighters. Boromite gangers can be
armed in almost any fashion, but they
uniquely make use of weapons
developed from mining tools including
mass compactors and frag borers.
Reflex shielding is common and the
metallic nodes that support the reflex
armour field are often fixed directly into
the wearer’s thick hide.
The Freeborn
The Freeborn are the greatest
merchants and traders of Antarean
space, whose fleets maintain a free-flow
of commodities and technology
between human worlds and beyond.
Freeborn ships travel easily between
antagonistic societies such as the Isorian
Shard and Panhuman Concord, the Ghar
and Algoryn, and so forth. Although the
Freeborn maintain a few hidden worlds
as bases and warehouses, they stand
aside and apart from other human
societies, recognising no masters but
the lord of their own household – or
Vardo. The Vardo is a vast fleet that plies
its trade between groups of worlds. The
ownership of these trade routes is in
part hereditary and the source of every
Vardo’s wealth. When routes become
contested, rival Freeborn will go to war,
as happened between the Oszon
Mercantile League and Ky’am
Freetraders. Feuds between Vardari are
deeply felt family affairs and matters of
honour that can last for generations.
Relationships between the different
households are complex and are often
settled by intermarriage between ruling
families - political arrangements made
between one Vardo and another.
The Freeborn don’t just deal in
commodities and knowledge, they also
deal in human services – and most
specifically they hire armed troops to
anyone willing to pay for them. These
mercenary soldiers can be Freeborn
retainers, but often they are troops
purposefully recruited, trained and
equipped by the Freeborn from
amongst the more primitive worlds of
the Determinate and the Spill. Freeborn
have access to all the weapons and
armour of Antarean space, but, with an
eye to cost and practicality, tend to
favour mag guns and reflex shielding as
basic equipment. Of course, amongst
the ruling family and their close relatives
anything goes, from expensively re-
sharded Isorian phase armour to
compression carbines and all manner of
alien exotica.
The Ghar Empire
The Ghar live only for battle and
conquest, expending their entire
energies on war and enslaving other
human species they defeat. This savage
race is descended from genetically
adapted slave soldiers, though when or
why they were created is a mystery. The
Ghar themselves have little interest in
such matters. They rule over a sizeable
empire that borders against the Algoryn
Prosperate, with whom they have been
at war for many centuries. Neither the
Panhuman Concord nor Isorian Shard
have ever taken much interest in the
Ghar, possibly because Ghart culture is
relatively primitive. Ghart worlds are
heavily shielded against nano-based
technologies. The Ghar themselves are
small, repulsive creatures with hunched
torsos, bulging guts and what look to be
spindly arms and bow legs – but they
are rarely seen out of their huge,
armoured battle suits. Though
unattractive, their appearance belies a
brutish strength and tremendous
resilience to damage.
In battle Ghar warriors wear armoured
suits that conceal their physical
appearance and endow them with great
strength and endurance. They will
happily use weapons captured from the
enemy or produced by slaves in their
numerous armaments factories. The
Ghar make nothing themselves, but
mercilessly exploit their slave labourers
to produce whatever they need to
pursue their bloody wars. What they
cannot make they trade with the few
Freeborn Vardo that will deal with them.
Even the most profit-minded of the
Freeborn prefer to keep such dealings
under wraps.
The Determinate
The Determinate is the name given to
all the advanced independent system-
based societies of human space that
exist beyond the Panhuman Concord
and Isorian Shard. These worlds are not
united in any sense, and many, such as
the Algoryn and Ghar, are outright
enemies. Many of these planets fear
they will be swallowed by the ever-
expanding Panhuman Concord or
Isorian Shard. Thousand of planets have
been absorbed in this way: others
continue to resist. It is an unceasing war
against an uncaring opponent – a foe
without hatred or fear – an unfeeling
intelligence that recognises neither
boundaries nor cultural identities. Many
neighbouring worlds of the Determinate
work together to fight against either
Concord or Isorian forces, to protect
their outlying colonies and to destroy
scouting fleets.
The Spill
The Spill is the ancient name for the
entire Antarean diaspora, the great
movement through space of the human
race at the dawn of the age of
exploration. The Spill encompasses all
worlds where humans live, whether they
are currently connected to Antares or
not, and regardless of whether they are
advanced societies, brutish savages, or
even degenerate mutants. The Spill is
TRANSMATS
Transmatter modulation was one of the first Builder technologies to be
uncovered during the exploration of Antarean space. This happened such a
long time ago that it’s impossible to be sure exactly how this discovery
occurred, or where, or how the alien technology was successfully replicated.
All we know is that from the Second or Renatal Age, transmatter modulators
– or transmats as they are generally known – became commonplace
throughout human space.
A transmat is the usual method of transportation between an orbiting
spacecraft and a planet’s surface, or from one spacecraft to another in close
proximity. A transmat can transport an object or person to another transmat,
allowing practically instantaneous travel between two remote locations. The
distance that can be travelled between two transmats depends upon their
position to some extent, but is generally sufficient to travel from a planet’s
surface to an orbiting craft, although not much greater. Some worlds have
transmat systems that allow overland travel; this is achieved by a series of
static transmats phased precisely together and spaced about fifty miles
apart. These are known as transmat loops or as trans-loops or just loops;
they function like roadways, transporting materials and people between one
fixed location and another.
It is also possible to use a transmat to pick up an object or person by means
of an attached transmatter receptor tuned to the same phase modulation as
the transmat itself. This allows a single transmat to function even without
another transmat to transport to. These receptors are generally known as
jump hooks. In this case the hooked object is transported to the transmat
together with the receptor itself. The smallest receptors are so tiny they can
be implanted beneath the skin or secreted in jewellery or clothing. Jump
hooks have a very short range and this affects the size of the transmat
capsule – in effect the greater the distance the smaller the volume can be
transported. The very smallest brain implants may be sufficient just to hook
the wearer’s head, neatly severing the skull from the body. In extreme
transports of this kind a bio-stasis tank awaits! So long as the transportee’s
brain remains intact it is always possible to regenerate or, failing that, affect
transfer into a clone body.
Transmatter modulation technology also has a role to play upon the
battlefield, in the form of homer shells that function as temporary
transmats. These tiny versions of transmats don’t function for very long, and
there is always the inherent risk of the modulator field collapsing mid-
transport. However, they form a method of placing troops or materials into
the heart of a battlefield when necessary.
simply all humans everywhere – Vorl. The Vorl compete with the Concord
and Isorians to explore new worlds and
including those worlds that have been
to build new colonies. The Vorl are prone
lost or which remain to be rediscovered.
to fighting amongst themselves, but
Exploring Antarean space to uncover
occasionally are united under a powerful
new and lost human worlds creates
great rivalry, and is one of the chief faction, which then becomes the Vorl
Orde and leads a war of conquest
causes of conflicts between different
civilisations. against neighbouring human
settlements. The Vorl are powerful
Aliens enough to pose a threat to human
ambitions, and they are one of the few
Humans are not alone in Antarean alien races that is at least as technically
space, many worlds are home to unique advanced as the Concord and Isorian
alien species. There are numerous alien Shard. Some Freeborn Vardos trade
civilisations spread over many worlds with the Vorl and even hire Vorl warriors
just as there are human federations and as mercenary fighters, although such
empires. Amongst these species are the dealings tend to be conducted in secret.
Introductory Background 7
 Core Game Rules
This is a new core version of the Antares
rules system designed to serve as an
introduction to the full rules set and as a
taster of how the game works. It does
not include rules for everything
envisaged in the full game, vehicles and
buildings for example, but it will prove
sufficient to play a basic game using the
sample forces described. Note that the
game has been considerably developed
compared to the version that originally
appeared on the Dark Space Corp
website. This new version utilises some
of Warlord Games’ Bolt Action
mechanics, which many readers may be
familiar with already.
ranges proportionately if you have a
sufficiently large playing surface to
accommodate doing so.
ARMIES
This core rule set doesn’t include full
army lists, force selectors or points
values. Instead I’ve worked out a
number of pre-selected sample forces.
They are quite basic at this stage. As we
An infantry squad usually comprises between five and ten models
develop the game further each force will
acquire unique features and more
variety as you might expect. These are
included at the back of this rule set (see
page 40).
FORMATIONS
Each player’s army comprises a number
of infantry squads and weapon teams
plus a commander.

INTRODUCTION
I’m not going to write much about how
to measure distances, throw dice, brew
a decent cup of tea or any other
essentials of how to play a wargame.
For this core version of the game, I will
assume that the reader is familiar
enough with how wargames are played.

SCOPE OF THE GAME

A weapons team comprises a support or heavy weapon
This core version of the rules is intended plus crew to operate it – usually two and three respectively
for use with opposing armies of
approximately thirty to fifty models a
side. Smaller or larger games are – of
course possible – but the detail level of
play assumes we are dealing with forces
of about this size. We have played on
battlefields as small as four feet by four
feet, though on the whole we would
suggest six by four feet is ideal. As such,
we would describe our game as a In some armies, a weapons
skirmish – a conflict between relatively team can alternatively be a
small forces – where each model stands crewless drone
for one actual individual armed and
equipped as he, she or it appears to be. A commander is a
model representing
The weapon ranges and model a leader of your
movement distances are quite long army. Sometimes
compared to the size of playing area commanders will
suggested, but still compact relative to be accompanied by
the size of the models and the real-life up to four support
ranges of comparable contemporary troopers,
weaponry. This is a compromise attendants,
hangers-on, pets
between models, ranges and moves; or other
which looks and feels about right whilst supernumeraries
allowing the game to be played in a making a unit of up
reasonable space. Feel free to extend to five models

8 Beyond the Gates of Antares

Each of these squads, teams and Infantry unit in formation
commanders is referred to as a unit. A
squad is a unit, a weapons team
including its weapon and crew is a unit,
and a commander is a unit either all on
his own or including additional models.
Units comprising more than one model
are arranged into a formation. A
formation is a group of models where no
models are separated from the group by
more than 1” (see right).
Sometimes a unit’s formation will be
compromised because some members
may be killed, leaving surviving models
divided by more than 1”. When this
happens the unit must move into Casualties can disrupt formations in which case the unit
formation the next time it moves, but must move into formation the next time it moves
otherwise it is unaffected (see right).

Gaps Between Units

Different units must keep more than 1”
apart from each other, unless they are
opposing units fighting an assault, in
which case they are moved into touch to
show that they are fighting. Note that it
doesn’t matter whether units are
enemies or friends, they must keep
more than 1” apart unless engaged in an
assault. Note also that this contrasts
with models within a unit, which must
keep within 1” to retain their formation.

Characters and DICE

Base Sizes
non-combatants For the most part, the Antares game
At this stage we see no necessity to uses ten-sided dice (D10s) to regulate
In this version of the rules we be definitive about the size of play. You will need about a dozen D10s
concentrate on military units bases used to mount the models. It including some of different colours. You
engaged in formal encounters, as is imagined that ordinary infantry will also need a few ordinary six sided
that seemed a good place to start. models will be fixed upon round dice (D6s) and one or two eight and four
The full rule set will also cover bases about 25mm in diameter sided dice (D8s and D4s).
individual characters and adventure because that is the most
style skirmish wargames, as well as commonly used size amongst MEASURING
larger battles featuring vehicles and existing gamers. If you use slightly
other large machines. A selection of smaller or larger bases just make You will need a tape measure marked in
rules for characters is given in the any necessary adjustment to the inches to measure distances during play,
Sample Armies section, page 40. rules for formations, allowing a for example ranges for weapons and
little extra or a little less distance to moves for squads. In principle, you are
compensate. not allowed to measure before declaring
you will shoot, move, or whatever.
Probes and other special units
In addition to the kinds of units
described, there are a few
exceptional units such as clouds of
probes and autonomous drones.
These are not strictly speaking
infantry squads, weapon teams or
commanders. However, they are
important parts of some forces, and
you’ll find more about these special
units in the Basic Armoury section of
the rulebook on page 32.

Core Game Rules 9

Declare what you want to do first and
then measure afterwards. If you have
declared an intention to shoot and find
yourself out of range then tough luck –
the shot has no effect and is wasted!
ORDER DICE
During play, units are given different
kinds of instructions or orders. There
are six different orders: Fire, Advance,
Run, Ambush, Rally, and Down. We use
a special six-sided order dice placed
next to each unit to show the order it
has been given.
Order dice are available from Warlord
Games. Each player will need a set of
distinctly coloured but otherwise
identical order dice; for example
Concord blue and Isorian green. Each
side begins the game with one order
dice for each unit in that side’s army.
For example, if your army consists of
twelve units you will need twelve order
dice.
Dice Bag
During the game both sides’ order dice
are placed together in a container and
drawn blind one at a time to determine
which side acts next. We always refer
to this container as a dice bag in the
text; however, any suitable opaque
container will do so long as it allows
you to draw the dice unseen.
NEW SKIN FOR OLD
The sophisticated societies of human space no longer consider gene-slicing
and genetic implantation as in any way unusual. These are techniques that
are routinely used to repair injuries, regenerate organs, rejuvenate aged
bodies, and modify undesirable physical characteristics, whether cosmetic
or actually injurious to health. Indeed, most citizens of such worlds would be
amazed to learn that there was ever a time when an arm or leg couldn’t be
rapidly regenerated in a bio-tank, or where genetic diseases couldn’t be
corrected practically instantly. On many worlds these same techniques form
the basis for personal and recreational body-morphing, allowing those with
sufficient wealth to change their appearance, the colour of their skin, and
even their gender if they so please. On some worlds the fashion for body
pigmentation or patterning means it is possible to encounter people whose
skin is tinted blue, or violet, or orange – or whatever is the latest and most
fashionable colour of the season.
Amongst some peoples, notably the Vardos of the Freeborn and Boromite
Labour Guilds, genetic skinplants are a visible and often colourful way of
marking an individual’s tribal loyalty. Boromites in particular make use of
patch-patterning genetic grafts to mark their scaly hides with Guild and
family symbols. The natural shade of Boromites is either a range of bluish-
grey or, in the case of the families known as the Ha’ Ulut and their
descendants, a reddish brown; however, some Guilds choose to mark their
allegiance with natal implants, so that all the Guild of the Under Fallen, for
example, are almost black, with a patterning of stars meant to symbolise
their people’s succession to the void. Other Guilds may display a simple
round badge of patterned scales in a distinct colour, such as the Rosette of
the Katk worn upon the forehead of that Guild. Even within Guilds many
families have traditional skin colours or patterning. Unlike amongst most
other human societies, these are indelible and honourable marks of
affiliation, and to change or alter them according to the whims of fashion
would be unthinkable. Indeed, only an outcaste or criminal would be so
stripped of his identity as the most terrible of punishments.

PIN MARKERS
Pin markers are placed next to units
when they are hit by enemy fire to
show that they are 'pinned', and in
other circumstances to indicate
exhaustion or confusion. This reduces a
unit’s ability to respond to orders, to
shoot accurately, and to react to
enemy actions. A variety of pin
markers are available from Warlord
Games, or players can improvise and
make their own from card chits, etc.

10 Beyond the Gates of Antares

STATS WEAPON TYPES
Different kinds of models have different game statistics or ‘stats’. In most cases, all Weapons are covered in a separate
the models comprising a unit have the same stats. Here’s an example of the stat section; however, it is useful to have an
values for a typical or ‘average’ human trooper arranged into a stat line. idea of the types and terminology
before reading the rules.

Unit Ag Acc Str
Human 5 5 5 5
Agility (Ag). The Agility stat is used
when making tests for movement and
especially when moving through dense
hard going terrain.
Accuracy (Acc). The Accuracy stat is
used when shooting with a weapon to
determine if a shot hits.
Strength (Str). The Strength stat is used
when fighting hand-to-hand combat to
determine if a strike scores a hit.
Resist (Res). The Resist stat is used when
working out the result of enemy attacks:
the higher the value the better the
chance of avoiding damage or death.
The Algoryn military is one of the
most efficient and effective fighting
forces in the entirety of Antarean
Space. The whole of Algoryn society
is geared for war and survival in a
hostile universe.
Res Init Co Special
7 8 -
Initiative (Init). The Initiative stat is
used when making unit reactions to
determine if a unit can react or not.
Command (Co). The Command stat is
used when testing to receive orders, and
is a combined measure of training, team
cohesion and individual courage. The
higher the Command stat the greater is
the chance a unit acts upon its orders.
Special (Sp). The column at the end of
the stat-line indicates any special rules
that apply to that unit or individual.
Note that there is no fixed minimum or
maximum for stat values. However, in
practically all cases, tests made against
stats will succeed on a roll of a 1 and fail
on a 10 regardless of the value tested
against. This is an important rule, and it
is repeated throughout the text where I
thought it helpful to do so. There are a
few variations on this idea, but let us
begin with the assumption that it is a
general rule.
Hand weapons are pistols and other
weapons held in one hand, including
close combat weapons, such as the
lectro-lash or tractor maul and wrist or
forearm mounted weapons, such as
X-slingers. This category also includes
weapons sub-mounted to larger
weapons, which can also include
X-slingers, for example.
Standard weapons are weapons of
carbine and rifle type that require two
hands to operate effectively. Most of
our troops carry standard weapons of
one kind or another, most commonly
plasma carbines or mag-guns.
Support weapons are weapons that
have a crew of two but which are light
enough to keep pace with troops armed
with standard weapons. For example, a
plasma cannon.
Heavy weapons are weapons that have
a crew of at least three and which need
to be set-up and stationary to operate.
These weapons usually have very long
ranges and are likely to be extremely
powerful. For example, a fractal
bombard.

Boromites defend a mining complex against an Algoryn attack

Core Game Rules 11

 THE TURN
Before the game begins the players each
place an appropriate number of order
dice in the dice bag: one dice for every
unit in their force. For example, if a force
of eight Concord (blue) units is facing a
force of nine Isorian (green) units, then
the bag starts off with eight blue order
dice and nine green order dice.
TURN SEQUENCE
Antares is played in turns. In each turn
the players follow this sequence:
1. Orders phase:
Draw an order dice from the dice bag
and hand it to the player it belongs to.
The player chooses one of his units and
gives it an order. Place the order dice
next to the unit to show this. Once a unit
has been given an order it cannot be
given another order that turn.
If necessary, the player takes an order
test to determine if the unit follows the
order.
The player executes the unit’s resulting
action.
Back to 1. Once all eligible units have
received an order, the dice bag is empty
and the orders phase ends – move to
the turn end phase.
COMPRESSION
TECHNOLOGY
The search for Builder technology is
one of the major driving forces behind
the exploration of Antarean space.
Compression technology is a derivation
of Builder graviton manipulation
science. It provides the basis for low-
speed propulsion motors, suspensors,
anti-gravity, and hyper-compressed
materials otherwise known as
hypermats or HMC. HMC allows
quantities of raw material to be stored
in tiny volumes, and then reshaped or
expressed in the form of useful tools,
weapons or other machinery. For
example, HMC allows a ‘mother’
nanodrone to express workmate
nanites. Compression fields allow the
same drones to re-absorb materials as
HMC, effectively giving a drone a
workshop of tools and materials to
draw upon as required. IMTel probes
use this technology to maintain the
conductive nano-field fundamental to
Concord and Isorian society.
12 Beyond the Gates of Antares
2. Turn End phase:
The order dice are gathered up and
returned to the dice bag, except in the
following cases: units that have a down
order (which must pass a recovery test
to remove their order) and units wishing
to voluntarily retain an Ambush order.
These exceptions are described later on
page 14.
Destroyed Units and
Order Dice
Units that are destroyed during the turn
lose their order dice immediately. If a
destroyed unit already has an order,
remove the order dice placed next to it.
If a destroyed unit does not have an
order, remove a dice from the dice bag.
Order dice removed from destroyed
units are handed over to the opposing
player and placed where both players
can see them – so both players can tell
exactly how many opposing units have
been destroyed.
Reactions
Units are allowed to make certain
reactions in response to enemy actions
before, during or after those actions are
complete. For example, units can
respond to enemy fire by going to
ground, or they can respond to an assault
by shooting as the enemy approaches,
and so on. In most cases, units wishing to
make a reaction must take and pass a
reaction test to do so. We won’t worry
about these reactions for now, but bear
in mind they can occur throughout the
turn sequence in response to enemy
actions. For more about this see the
section Reactions on page 29.
More than two sides?
Although most players think of
games in terms of two opposing
sides, Beyond the Gates of Antares is
ideally suited to playing with three,
four or more sides. Simply choose a
different colour order dice for each
side, and put all the order dice into
the dice bag. This is especially useful
for ‘umpire controlled’ third forces,
and can also be used to play
interesting games with players of
dubious loyalty on the same side if
you wish. We won’t be exploring this
aspect of play any further in the core
rules, but it is worth bearing in mind
from the start.
Exceptions
There are a few special weapons,
devices and situations that allow for
exceptions within the normal order
phase. Don’t fret if you find an
exception that contradicts the order
phase I have described. It’s easier to
write a nice tight rule and make
occasional exceptions than it is to
explain every exception and wrinkle
at the start.
ORDERS
The choice of orders a player can issue
to his units is represented by the six
faces of the order dice as follows:
Order Summary of action
1. Fire Shoot without moving.
2. Advance Move and then shoot.
3. Run Move at increased speed
without shooting.
4. Ambush No move/shoot, but wait
for opportunity to react.
5. Rally No move/shoot, but lose
D6 pin markers.
6. Down No move/shoot, but more
difficult to hit.
Note: this core version of the Antares
rules uses the standard Bolt Action
order dice, which are available from
Warlord Games. If you don’t have
special order dice, then ordinary dice
will do so long as you have two sets of
different colours. Use the number on the
dice corresponding to the order to show
what the unit is doing, e.g. 1 = Fire, 2 =
Advance, and so on.
Fire
The models in the unit do not move,
instead they shoot their weapons at
their chosen target. Heavy weapons
teams must be given a fire order to
shoot: heavy weapons can only shoot
when stationary. See the rules for
Shooting on page 17.
Advance
The unit can move and then fire its
weapons. As explained above, heavy
weapons can’t move and shoot at the
same time, so a heavy weapon unit
given an advance order can only move.
See the rules for Movement on page 14
and for Shooting on page 17.
Run
The unit moves at increased speed, but
cannot shoot any of its weapons. See
the rules for Movement on page 14.
Ambush
The unit does not move or shoot.
Instead, the unit maintains its position
and waits for the enemy to approach.
See the rules for Reactions on page 29.
Rally
The unit does not move or shoot.
Instead, the unit rests, pauses for
breath, and regroups ready for the
following turn. See the rules for Pinned
Units below.
Down
The unit does not move or shoot.
Instead, the troops hit the dirt and keep
their heads down as far as possible,
making maximum use of whatever
cover is available. This affects the rules
for shooting in particular (see page 17).
PINNED UNITS
Normally, units make the action you
order them to make automatically,
without any test required. However,
troops become less reliable under fire
and as they become exhausted, in which
case it is possible they will fail to act as
you wish. This is represented by the
rules for pins. Pinned units are indicated
by one or more pin markers placed next
to or behind the affected unit. The more
pin markers a unit has, the harder it will
be for it to fulfil its order.
Pin Markers
Units acquire pin markers during the
course of play, representing a
combination of fatigue and stress. Pin
markers are gained when:
• A unit is shot at and hit by an enemy
unit. See page 22.
• A unit takes casualties in hand-to-
hand fighting. See page 27.
• A unit makes a sprint move and
becomes exhausted. See page 15.
• A unit attempts to react to the enemy
and fails to do so. See page 29.
By far the most common ‘pin’ situation
is where a unit is shot at and hit by an
enemy unit. Indeed, one of the
objectives of shooting is to pin a target
to reduce its fighting effectiveness.
Unit with pins
Maximum Pins
If at any time a unit has pin markers
equal to or greater than its original
command stat, it is automatically
destroyed. This normally happens
immediately, but in the case of hand-to-
hand fighting it happens once both sides
have fought. The unit’s will to fight has
been crushed. The unit flees from the
scene in blind panic, without any
thought but escape. Remove the unit in
the same way as if enemy shooting had
destroyed it.
Effect of Pinning
Each pin marker on a unit imposes a
penalty of –1 on the unit’s command,
initiative and accuracy stats. Command
is discussed below.
Command is tested to decide if a pinned
unit acts on its orders. It is also used to
determine if a down unit recovers at the
end of the turn, and – in some
circumstances – to work out if a depleted
unit breaks. If a unit has a command stat
of 8, and it has two pin markers on it, its
command value is reduced to 6. If it has
five pin markers its command value is
reduced to 3, and so on.
Initiative affects a unit’s ability to make
reactions, whilst accuracy affects a unit’s
chances of hitting a target with
shooting. We’ll deal with both of these
later in the appropriate rules sections.
For now we are concerned only with
how pins affect orders.
Order Tests
A unit that is not pinned acts upon any
order it receives automatically. The
order dice is placed next to the unit. The
corresponding action is carried out
without any need to take an order test.
If a unit has one or more pin markers it is
pinned and cannot act upon its order
automatically. After placing the order
dice next to the unit, the player must
take an order test to see if the order is
acted upon. Roll a D10 and compare the
result with the unit’s command stat
modified for pins as described above
(i.e. –1 per pin).
If the D10 result is equal or lower than
the unit’s modified command value, the
unit passes the test. A unit that passes
an order test discards one pin marker,
and then executes the order it has been
given. This represents the unit pulling
itself together before acting upon its
instructions.
If the D10 roll is higher than the unit’s
modified command value, the test is
failed. A unit that fails its order test
discards one pin marker, and then
makes a down action rather than the
order intended. Rotate the order dice to
show that the unit has gone down. This
represents the unit pausing to catch its
breath and recover its collective wits
instead of doing what you wanted.
If the test is failed and the D10 roll is a
natural 10 we make a special case. On a
roll of a 10 the test is still failed, and the
unit still goes down, but no pin marker is
removed. The unit has fallen into
momentary confusion and so retains all
of its pin markers.
Designer’s Note:
The above is a significant rules
change over Bolt Action in that units
remove a pin marker when given an
order rather than when they pass an
order. I have made this change
because down units now have to test
to recover their order dice, which
means they otherwise face a double
whammy on top of their pins.
The new rule is that you remove a pin
every time you give a unit an order
whether it is passed or not – unless
you roll a 10. If you roll a 10 you don’t
lose a pin marker. This keeps things
interesting.
Core Game Rules 13
Units with differing
Command stats
If a unit comprises models with differing
command stats, then always use the
highest value. For example, in a squad
where one model has a value of 9 and
three models have a value of 7, the
squad has a value of 9.
Ordering Pinned Units Down
There is one important exception to the
rule that pinned units must take order
tests before making an action. If you
deliberately order a pinned unit down
no order test is taken. The unit goes
down automatically. However, note that
when you do this, the unit does not lose
a pin marker because it has not taken an
order test.
Ordering Pinned Units to Rally
The rally order is used to remove several
pins from a unit all at once. It is a very
good way to restore the fighting
potential of a unit that is carrying lots of
pins. When you take an order test to rally,
ignore pin modifiers to the command
value. If the test is passed, the unit will
discard one pin marker because it has
been given an order, and it discards an
additional D6 pin markers for the result
of the action, thus effectively discarding
D6+1 pin markers. If the test is failed the
unit still removes one pin marker because
it has been given an order (unless a 10 is
rolled) and the unit goes down because it
has failed the order.
Designer’s Note:
Once again this is a change from the
Bolt Action game, where heavily
pinned units are almost impossible to
rally because of the penalty. The new
rule is that pin markers don’t affect
rally orders at all, making it more
practical to rally units during play.
Modifiers to Order tests
Aside from pin markers, which reduce a
unit’s command value as described
above, bonuses are sometimes applied
due to the presence of important
commanders or influential characters. It
is also worth noting that there are some
penalties due to the effects of special
weapons. These are all dealt with as
additional rules for specific models and
need not concern us for the moment.
See the Sample Armies section for a
14 Beyond the Gates of Antares
selection of rules relating to leaders and
commanders.
Maximum and Minimum
Command Values
Regardless of how many pin markers it
has, or how many other bonuses or
penalties apply, when making an order
test a roll of 1 will always succeed, whilst
a roll of 10 will always fail even if the
tester’s stat is 10 or greater.
Retaining an Order at the
end of the turn
In the turn end phase, once all the order
dice in the dice bag have been drawn,
the order dice are gathered up from the
table and placed back in the dice bag
ready for the next turn. There are,
however, two notable exceptions.
Ambush Orders
Units that end their turn in ambush can
retain their order or return the order dice
to the dice bag. This is entirely the
player’s choice. If the player decides to
retain the ambush order, the order dice is
left where it is and the unit starts the next
turn in ambush. This potentially allows a
unit to stay in ambush from turn-to-turn,
watching and waiting for the chance to
react. See Reactions, page 29.
Down Orders
Units that end their turn with a down
order do not automatically return their
order dice to the dice bag. Instead, a
test is made to determine if the order
dice is returned to the dice bag. Thus –
when you give a unit a down order there
is no need to test when the order is
given, instead you must test to recover
the dice at the end of the turn, and you
must make this test even if the unit is
not pinned.
This test is taken in the same way as an
order test – but for the sake of clarity we
call it a recovery test. Take the test
exactly as you would for any other order
test, applying the same modifiers to the
unit’s command stat. If the test is
passed, one pin marker is removed from
the unit if it has any, and the unit’s order
dice is returned to the dice bag. If the
test is failed, one pin marker is removed
from the unit if it has any (unless a 10 is
rolled) and the down order is retained
into the following turn.
If a down order is retained, the order
dice is left where it is and the unit starts
the following turn already down. The
unit will get another chance to recover
at the end of the following turn.
Note that regardless of any modifiers
that apply to the unit’s command stat,
when making a recovery test a roll of 1
will always succeed, whilst a roll of 10
will always fail even if the tester’s stat is
10 or greater.
MOVEMENT
All troops have a standard move rate
(M) of 5” in this basic version of the
game. This means a model can move up
to 5” when it makes an advance action,
and up to 10” when it makes a run action
(2M). We will introduce units that move
at different speeds in the expanded
game rules, but there is no need to
concern ourselves with such things for
now. Note that this means there is no
‘movement’ stat for distance.
MOVING THROUGH
Models that belong to the same
formation can pass freely through each
other as they move. Otherwise, models
must move round friends, enemies, and
impassable terrain.
Models cannot approach to within 1” of
enemies as they move, unless the move
is a run action resulting in an assault
(see Assaults, page 25).
Models can approach within 1” of other
friendly units as they move, but must
complete their move more than 1” away.
RETAINING FORMATION
Once a unit has finished its move it must
retain a viable formation. This overrides
and constrains all other rules that oblige
units to move in a certain fashion; for
example, a unit that has to move ‘as far
as possible’ will move as far as possible
whilst retaining a viable formation.
TURNING TO FACE
Individual models are free to turn to
face in any direction at any time during
the game. Turning to face does not
otherwise count as movement for units
on foot or for weapons teams operating
support or heavy weapons. However,
note that heavy weapons that turn to
face a target by more than 90 degrees
will suffer a penalty to their Acc value
when they do so – see page 20.

What manner of creature would
willingly step beyond the Gates of
Antares into worlds of which we
know nothing? To pass from the
safety of the Panhuman Concord
into an uncertain and incalculable
future? It is against all reason.
It is beyond the scope of every
predictor. It defies analysis. It is – in
a word – insane.
AGILITY TESTS
Sometimes, during play, a unit will be
called upon to make a test against its
agility value. These tests are usually for
kinds of movement; sprinting, climbing,
leaping about and so on. A unit’s agility,
or Ag, value is its agility stat with any
modifiers applied. Special equipment and
weaponry can potentially affect a unit’s
agility value, but for now we shall
consider the following common
modifiers.
Very hard going terrain............ -1
Extra hard going terrain .......... -2
Support weapon team ............-1
Heavy weapon team .............. -2
Each team crewman short ...... -1
The weapon team modifiers apply to all
crewed team weapon units. Team
weapons that lack sufficient crew to
operate them suffer the additional
penalty for each crewman they are
short. The terrain modifiers apply if any
of the unit’s models are in terrain of the
type described at the start of their
Areas of terrain such as this patch of jungle must be delineated either by a base or by bounding scenery arranged around its edge
move, or if they are attempting to enter
terrain of that kind. For example, a
support weapon team with an agility
stat of 5 attempting to move into very
hard going will suffer a –2 penalty and
have an agility value of 3.
Agility tests are taken as follows. Roll a
D10. If the score is equal to or less than
the unit’s agility value the test is passed.
If the score is more than the unit’s agility
value the test is failed. Any roll of a 1 is
an automatic pass whilst any roll of a 10
is a failure regardless of the value tested
against, even if the unit has an agility of
greater than 10.
SPRINT
A run action is normally a double pace
move of up to 10” as described at the
start of this section. However, an
infantry or command unit that has a run
order can make a sprint if the player
wishes. The player must state that he is
attempting a sprint before moving the
unit: it is not permitted to move 10” and
then decide to sprint, for example.
Support and heavy weapons teams
cannot make a sprint. A sprint is a move
of up to 15” (3M) rather than 10” (2M)
but in all other respects it is the same as
any other run action. If a unit makes a
sprint it risks becoming exhausted at the
end of the move. Once the unit has
moved it must test its agility (Ag). If the
test is passed it is not affected. If the
test is failed the unit takes one pin. A
sprint is therefore a useful move if you
want a unit to move fast, but at the risk
of taking a pin marker.
TERRAIN
A unit’s movement distance is
sometimes reduced to reflect the
environment it is moving through. This
allows for battles to be fought over the
ruins of cities, in jungles, steaming
swamps, cratered moons, shifting ash
dunes, and so forth. For convenience,
we refer to terrain that constrains
movement as hard going. Not all types
of terrain are hard going by any means,
and players getting to grips with the
game may want to ignore all the rules
for hard going terrain to start with.
Terrain is represented by suitable
models; for example, model vegetation,
craters, a marsh, boulder field, etc.
Areas of terrain must be delineated
either by a base or by bounding scenery
arranged around its edge.
When a unit attempts to move into a
hard going terrain feature, stop as soon
as a model reaches the terrain and make
an agility test. If the test is passed, the
unit can complete its move into and
through the feature without loss of
movement distance. If the test is failed,
the unit can still complete its
movement, but models moving through
hard going terrain do so at half pace. I.e.
the distance moved through hard going
terrain is doubled, so 1.5” of hard going
counts as 3”.
If a unit begins its action whilst any
model is within hard going terrain, then
make the test at the start of the unit’s
move. Note that although the test is
taken for the whole unit, the reduction
of pace applies only to those individual
Core Game Rules 15
models within a hard going terrain area
(even if only partially) and only applies
whilst they remain within it.
It is possible for a unit to cross two or
more individual areas of hard going
terrain as it moves, in which case roll for
each area separately, one after the
other as it is reached. Similarly, if a unit
encounters a low obstacle (see below)
within a hard going terrain feature, roll
for this separately. Basically, make a
separate test for each low obstacle and
each area of terrain encountered.
Hard Going
For now we envisage three categories of
hard going terrain: hard going (no Ag
modifier), very hard going (-1) and extra
hard going (-2). These three categories
should be sufficient to represent most
kinds of terrain, at least to start with.
Note that hard going terrain of all kinds
requires a test to move into and through
as described above, whilst very hard
going and extra hard going incur
penalties to the unit’s agility in addition.
All reduce pace to half rate.
LOW OBSTACLES
As well as areas of hard going terrain,
we will take account of low linear
obstacles up to approximately man-
height and up to the width of a base –
for example a low wall; a barricade
made of crates, drums or debris; or the
rim of a crater or shell-hole. Low
obstacles are – by definition – low
enough for models to see and shoot
over when positioned directly behind,
and low enough for models to clamber
over – even if the actual model terrain
may appear a little higher or broader
than described. In practice, we have
found it isn’t a good idea to fix a
Boromite Overseer Squad
16 Beyond the Gates of Antares
definitive height or breadth for low
obstacles because gamers’ scenery
collections vary considerably; however,
up to 1” high and wide is ideal, and a
maximum of 2” high and wide is
recommended for the sake of clarity.
Low obstacles don’t slow down infantry
units, command units or support
weapon teams making a standard move
(M). These units can move over low
obstacles measuring distance in the
usual way. No test is necessary for
models to cross. If a model has
insufficient movement to cross an
obstacle completely it does not cross –
i.e. it halts behind it and can cross in a
subsequent move: it does not move
halfway across.
An infantry unit, command unit, support
weapon team making a run move (2M or
3M sprint) can cross a low obstacle by
taking and passing an agility test.
A heavy weapons team making a
standard move (M) can cross a low
obstacle by taking and passing an agility
test. A heavy weapons team cannot cross
a low obstacle by making a run move.
If a unit fails a test to cross an obstacle it
cannot cross, though models can be
moved up to and behind the obstacle if
they can reach it. If the test is passed,
models can cross the obstacle, giving up
the distance moved to do so.
Remember, units must retain a viable
formation once they have moved, so if
an obstacle is wider than 1” either all
members of the unit will cross or none
will – the unit can’t be split over the
obstacle as this would compromise its
formation. This is why it is best to either
make obstacles no more than 1” wide or,
if you are willing to fudge things a little,
A transkin or T-skin is a film of null
material spun practically instantly
from a hypermat capsule no larger
than the tip of your little finger. The
material itself can be any colour or
transparent. It forms around a
person’s nano substructure – as all
civilised worlds are integrated
societies and the cell structure of
every citizen is suffused with active
nanites. A transkin is designed to
encase the wear in a temporatary
protective shell formed by gravitic
reaction between the skin’s null-
material and the wearer’s nanite field.
This reaction burns itself out after a
few minutes but endows the transkin
wearer with a steel-like skin that can
resist most forms of attack. The same
type of defence is called a neoskin or
null skin on some human worlds.
just assume obstacles are 1” wide and
work around it as necessary.
Units Behind Low Obstacles
Two exceptions apply to the rule that
units must test their agility when
crossing an obstacle.
Firstly, an infantry, command or support
weapon team that starts its move
already behind a low obstacle can
always move over it without testing,
even when making a run move. Note
this rule doesn’t include heavy weapons
teams – heavy weapons teams always
have to test.
Secondly, if an enemy unit is behind a
low obstacle, then it is not necessary to
literally cross the obstacle to move ‘into
touch’ with the enemy during an assault.
So long as the assaulting unit has enough
distance to reach the enemy, it is
sufficient for a model to move up to the
obstacle to count as ‘in touch’ with the
unit behind it. See Assaults page 25.
IMPASSABLE TERRAIN
Some kinds of terrain are impossible to
move over or through, and we call these
‘impassable terrain’ because they block
movement completely. Examples
include things like an enormous boulder,
a sheer cliff, a river of molten lava, and -
in most cases – the solid walls of
buildings. Troops equipped with anti-
gravity jumpers can potentially fly or
jump over the top of impassable terrain,
but we won’t concern ourselves with
such things in the core rules.
 SHOOTING You cannot draw a
Broadly speaking, the majority of units can 1 2 line of sight through
the base area of one
shoot when given a fire or advance order. In model to hit another.
some situations, units can also shoot when So, (top) red cannot
making a reaction, see the rules for Reactions shoot through blue 1
page 29. 1 2 to blue 2, and
(bottom) red 1 cannot
A unit making a fire action shoots without shoot through red 2
moving. Units making a fire action will benefit to hit blue.
from either aimed or rapid fire bonuses if their
weapons allow for these options.
A command unit, infantry unit or support
weapons team making an advance action can
move up to 5” (M) and then shoot. The unit
does not have to move, but must complete
any required movement before shooting. Note
that units shooting with an advance action
don’t get bonuses for aimed or rapid fire.
Heavy weapons teams cannot move and shoot
as an advance action; if they wish to shoot they
must remain stationary and shoot with a fire
action. A heavy weapons team can still make an You cannot draw a line of sight through another unit’s formation to hit another unit
beyond. So, red cannot shoot through blue to hit green, even though the shot doesn’t
advance action and move (M), but they cannot pass through the base of any blue models. Note that a unit can shoot through its own
shoot their heavy weapon when they do so; formation, so long as models don’t draw line of sight through the base area of any
however, crew can shoot with other weapons friends as shown above.
they carry where the rules normally allow it.

BASICS OF SHOOTING Intervening

obstructions. In this
Shooting is worked out unit on unit. When a example red cannot
unit shoots, all the models in the unit shoot at
the same enemy unit if they can. Models
unable to shoot at the chosen target don’t
X shoot at blue because
there is an area of
intervening terrain
shoot at all. between them, such
as a dense forest. The
same would be true if
Clear Shots there were
An individual model can shoot so long as it has a intervening
topography such as a
clear shot. Individual models that do not have a
hill, or a building.
clear shot do not shoot (there are some
exceptions for weapons that shoot overhead as
explained later). A shot is defined as clear if you Intervening light
can draw a straight line of sight (LOS) from the terrain. In this
shooting model to any model in the target unit. example red has a
A shot is blocked if the line passes through: clear shot at blue over
the single area of
• The base area of any model from either side intervening light
– you can’t deliberately shoot through one terrain – low
man to hit another! scrubland in this case.
This is because there
• Another unit’s formation to shoot at a are either gaps in the
target unit beyond – you can’t deliberately terrain or it is low
shoot through one unit to hit another! enough to see over.

• Any intervening topography, building or

area of terrain that lies between the shooter Here, red
and target, apart from a single area of light cannot shoot
terrain or a single low obstacle. Note it’s over the
either one or the other – not both!
In some situations troops are able to see
X second area of
intervening
light terrain –
through two or more areas of light terrain/low so it can’t
obstacles, for example if they have attached shoot at the
spotter drones. But we won’t concern blue target.
ourselves with that right now. See Spotter
Drones, page 37.
Core Game Rules 17
Shots to and from Occupied Cover As humanity spread throughout
Shooters and targets positioned within an area of terrain, or placed directly behind a Antarean space colonies were
low obstacle, are said to occupy the cover they are in. Occupied cover is ignored when established upon innumerable worlds
working out whether there is a clear shot. In other words, terrain or low obstacles very different from the home world of
occupied by the shooter or target don’t count as intervening terrain when it comes to Earth. Over the generations isolated
working out line of sight (LOS). However, note the exception below for dense terrain. populations evolved to live in all kinds
of environments, to breath alien
atmospheres, and to endure extreme
In the example pressures and gravities. This
above red is behind evolutionary process was, in many
a rubble wall and the cases, deliberately accelerated by
purple target geneticists, resulting in a universe
occupies an area of populated by humans of all kinds of
low scrubland shapes, sizes, colours and appearance.
counting as light
terrain – these don’t
count as intervening
– so red has a clear Size of Terrain Areas
shot to both blue When it comes to deciding if we have a
and purple over the
single area of
clear shot over intervening terrain, we
intervening light don’t worry too much about how big
scrub. areas of terrain are. This is because,
given the average size of most gaming
tables and bearing in mind the most
If a unit occupies an area of dense terrain, i.e. a terrain feature than is not commonly used sizes for terrain areas, it
specifically designated as ‘light’ terrain, such as a dense forest or tangled woodland is sufficient to talk in terms of the
– then the ability to draw a clear shot over one intervening light terrain or number of areas of terrain. In most
intervening low obstacle is cancelled out. In effect, when it comes to shooting at a situations, this makes it easy to tell
unit occupying dense terrain, or when a unit shoots from dense terrain, no line of whether a shooter has a clear shot or
sight (LOS) can be drawn over intervening light terrain or low obstacles. However, not. However, if you are using terrain
note the exception for Spotter Drones page 37. areas that are especially large it will be
necessary to take this into account. So,
if a shot is drawn through more than 10”
of the same continuous light terrain
area, then each further 10” counts as
another area. So, 30”of continuous low
scrubland would count as three areas of
light terrain – for example. As large
areas of terrain such as this are unusual,
we find it more practical to talk in terms
of the number of areas and make this
exception where necessary.

X Designer’s note.
Generally speaking, distances
between models are always
In the example above the purple unit is occupying dense woodland – this cancels out a measured base edge to base edge as
shooter’s ability to draw a clear shot over one intervening light terrain area. The red this is the easiest and most intuitive
shooters can draw a line of fire into the woodland because there is no intervening terrain. method. It is what most players will
The yellow unit cannot draw a clear shot because of the intervening area of light terrain. In do naturally. The main reason we
both cases the reverse is also true, purple can draw a clear shot at red but not at yellow.
resort to centre-to-centre for
working out line of sight is because
this avoids confusion caused by
Where exactly do I draw a line of sight from? different base sizes, in particular
Our models are often different sizes and shapes, and base sizes may vary in some when it comes to very large or wildly
cases. So, when drawing a straight line from a shooter to a target to determine if animated models. In practice it is
there is a clear shot, we draw a line from the centre of the shooter’s base to the rarely necessary to be quite so
centre of the target’s base. In practice, it is usually obvious enough whether a exacting, and players are encouraged
model has a clear shot or not, but if in doubt apply the ‘centre-to-centre’ rule. to decide these things for themselves
In the case of support and heavy weapons, where the weapon itself is being fired, where this is agreeable; however, this
draw the line of sight from the centre of the actual weapon model. This makes precise approach provides us with a
more sense because the models in the team are acting as crew. more finely tuned method for those
occasions that call for it.

18 Beyond the Gates of Antares

MEASURE RANGE game purposes, we are only concerned
When a unit shoots, all of its models with the distance between opposing Nanites
shoot at the enemy unit as a whole. units and not the distance between
individual models. This is done to speed Nano-sized drones, or nanites, are a
Therefore, don’t measure the range of key component of practically all
individual shooters. Instead measure the up gameplay and avoid fiddly micro-
management, but – if it helps you can advanced societies, providing the
range between the units, from the physical carrier medium for
closest shooting model to the closest also think of it as reflecting the
considerable range attainable with the machine-creature interaction,
model in the target unit to which it has a supporting energy fields, and
clear shot. Measure the distance advanced weaponry of the Antarean
universe. forming the conductive network for
between the two models base edge to intra-atmospheric data highways.
base edge. Therefore, if the closest In the case of support and heavy These tiny drones are in the order of
shooter is 10” away from the target all weapons, where the weapon itself is the size of mycoplasma, and are
the models in that unit are at 10” range. being fired, measure the rangealong the therefore invisible to the human
Note that this means that the distances barrel from the end of the barrel to the eye. They easily penetrate and
given for weapon ranges are often target. In this case the members of the saturate the bodies of living
exceeded, as individual models may be unit are acting as crew, so it makes more creatures.
further from the enemy than others. For sense to measure from the weapon.
On the most local level – a personal
armour defence might cast an
Models with multiple weapons invisible deflection shield around an
A model can potentially carry two or more ranged weapons. These might be individual person, or form the
separate weapons, such as a mag pistol and plasma carbine, or it could be a framework for a protective energy
weapon with an attached sub-mounted weapon, for example a plasma carbine shield. On a larger level, the human
with an X-slinger attachment. In any case, a model always shoots with one Concord and rival Isorian Shard are
weapon; and even where a model has more than one shot at a time it can only integrated by means of nano-sized
shoot with one weapon. Support and heavy weapons crews usually carry personal drones that form planet-wide
weapons too, a crewman can shoot with his personal weapon or he can operate conductive fields maintained by
the crewed weapon, but not both at the same time. data probes.

The author’s Boromite force plunders ruins of ancient civilisation

Core Game Rules 19

ROLL TO HIT
For each shooter that has a clear shot, roll a D10 to determine
if the shot strikes the target unit. If the score is equal to or
under the shooter’s accuracy value (Acc) the shot has hit. If
the roll is over the shooter’s Acc the shot has missed. A hit
represents a shot that is on target and which has landed
within the bounds of the enemy unit – a further test is made
to establish if an individual enemy is struck and killed (see Roll
to Resist, page 22).
A shooter’s Acc stat is modified as per the Accuracy Stat
Modifiers table to determine the Acc value for shooting. If all
the models in the shooting unit are armed the same way you
can roll all the dice together to save time. If some models are
armed differently, you can either roll separately or use
differently coloured dice to represent different weapons.
Intervening: in situations where units have a clear shot over an
intervening low obstacle or through intervening light terrain,
the penalty indicated applies to the score required to hit. Note
that this penalty only applies to intervening terrain and
obstacles as described – it does not apply to cover occupied by
either the shooter or the target. Remember, in most cases a
unit can only draw line of sight over one intervening low
obstacle or area of light terrain (see Clear Shots, page 17).
In many situations it is likely some models in the shooting unit
will have to draw their line of sight through intervening terrain
to hit some of the target. Regardless of this, for practicality’s
sake we either apply the penalty to all the shooters or none. In
these cases we will say that the penalty applies to the whole
unit if there is intervening terrain between most of the models
in the target unit and most of the models in the shooting unit. If
it is imposible to apply the most shooters/most target rule,
work out shots in batches or model by model.

ACCURACY STAT MODIFIERS

Modifier Type Situation Modifier
Pinned Each Pin marker on the
shooting unit -1
Range Effective (hand weapons) +1
Effective (other weapons) 0
Long -1
Extreme -2
Intervening Low Obstacle -1
Light Terrain -2
Fire Mode Aimed Fire (Fire order) +1
Rapid Fire (Fire order) -1 In this case three of the red shooters can fire at three of the purple
unit without their shots passing through the scrub terrain. Because
Overhead Fire Overhead weapon -2
there is no intervening terrain between most of the shooters and
Weapon Teams Each crewman short -1 most of the target, no penalty is applied to any of the shooters.
Heavy weapon out of arc -2
Fire Modes: where troops carry weapons capable of shooting in
different modes the entire unit must shoot in the same mode, and
this affects all weapons capable of shooting in that mode, i.e. the
Range: weapons have different effective, long and extreme entire unit must aimed fire with all models armed with weapons
ranges depending upon their type. Note that hand weapons – capable of aimed fire, or the entire unit must shoot rapid fire with
typically pistols – have an Acc bonus of +1 at effective range, all models armed with rapid firing weapons. These modes are only
whilst other weapons do not. Below are a few examples of available to units that are given a fire order. Weapons that have the
common weapons to illustrate the idea. See the Basic rapid fire ability are indicated by the weapon’s details in the
Armoury section for full details, page 32. Armoury section. If weapons have the rapid fire ability they can
shoot multiple times when given a fire order, and each shot suffers
a penalty of –1 to Acc as shown on the modifiers chart. Units
equipped with rapid fire weapons can always choose not to rapid
Weapon type Effective Long Extreme fire, in which case firers make one shot and forego the hit penalty
for rapid fire. Except for Overhead (OH) weapons, all standard and
Mag pistol or support weapons can fire an aimed shot when given a fire order,
plasma pistol 10” 20” 30”
with the benefit of a +1 to Acc rolls as shown on the modifiers
Mag gun 20” 30” 60” chart. Note that you have to choose one mode for the whole unit,
Plasma carbine 20” 30” 50” rapid firing weapons cannot rapid fire and aim at the same time–
it’s either one or the other. Note that other types of weapons don’t
Mag Repeater 20” 30” None get the aimed fire ability, for example pistol type hand weapons
Mag Light Support 30” 50” 100” and heavy weapons.
X-Launcher 10-30” 60” 120” Overhead fire: this modifier applies to weapons that lob a shot
over the heads of interposing troops or terrain – this is covered
on page 22.

20 Beyond the Gates of Antares

Weapon teams: if a weapon team no longer has enough
crewmembers to operate at full efficiency then its Acc is
reduced by –1 per missing crew member. In the case of heavy
weapons teams, although models can turn to face a target
without counting as movement, if a heavy weapon must turn
A B
by more than 90 degrees to face a target it suffers the penalty
shown: this is described as ‘out of arc’, i.e. the crew must turn
the weapon around to fire.

To Hit Rule of 1s and 10s

When rolling to hit 10s always miss regardless of any
modifiers that apply and regardless of the shooters’ stat, even
if it is greater than 10. C
When rolling to hit, if a shot requires a roll of less than 1, then In this example red shoots at blue and scores 3 hits. No hits can be
the shot can still hit if you roll a 1 followed by another 1. This is allocated to blue C because it is behind a building and there is no clear
the outside chance to hit rule. This is an exception to the usual shot. The first hit must be allocated to blue A because there is no initial
rule that rolls of 1 always succeed – in this case a 1 entitles you clear shot to blue B. Once blue A has received a hit the second hit is
to try again for another 1. allocated to blue B because A no longer blocks the shot, and hits must
be allocated as evenly as possible. The third hit can be allocated to
The outside chance to hit rules doesn’t apply to weapons that either A or B as the player wishes, as both are now clear targets.
fire overhead (OH weapons). In the case of these weapons a 1
will always hit regardless of any modifiers than might apply. In
Bear in mind that where a unit is firing a mix of weapon types
this respect OH weapons obey the normal rule of ‘10s and 1s’.
this can affect the following resist roll as different modifiers
See Overhead Fire on page 22.
might apply. This is why it is a good idea to use differently
coloured dice when rolling to hit with different kinds of
Bull’s Eye Rule weapons; that way, you can use the same differently coloured
So long as a shot requires a roll of more than 1 to hit, a dice to allocate hits to individual models.
successful roll of a 1 means you have scored a bull’s eye and can
allocate that hit to a model in the target unit. Normally, the
player whose unit has been shot at allocates where hits land, as Hits distributed amongst Lavamites unit
described below. Note that this rule doesn’t apply if you need a
1 to hit in the first place, or to outside chance shots as described
above, only to shots requiring more than 1 on a single roll.

Hits On Down Units

Units that have gone down are much more difficult to hit than
other targets. To represent this, each dice that scores a hit on
a down unit must be re-rolled, and a hit is only actually scored
if it hits again. In the case of hits inflicted by the outside
chance rule, just re-roll the second 1 and not the whole
sequence – i.e. you will need three 1s to score a hit and not
four (good luck with that!).
This is the chief advantage of a unit that has gone down, Any bull’s eyes scored by the shooter are allocated first by the
whether voluntarily or otherwise. Note that, in addition to player who scored the hits. The player whose unit has suffered
units going down as an order, or as a result of a failed order, it the hits allocates all the remaining hits. Hits can be allocated to
is also possible to go down as a reaction to being shot at in any models that can potentially be hit, so long as hits are
some situations – see Reactions, page 29. distributed as evenly as possible amongst the potential targets.

Allocate Hits
Each hit scored must be allocated to an individual model Designers note.
within the target unit. Hits must always be spread as evenly as Bear in mind that when allocating hits we don’t worry
possible amongst viable targets within the unit. Take all the whether an individual shooter has a clear shot to an
dice that have scored hits and place them next to individual individual model – only that the shooter has a clear shot to
models to show which have been hit. the unit as a whole (i.e. to at least one model in the unit).
As a result a shooter can theoretically hit a model he
Hits can only be allocated to models that the enemy has a
doesn’t have a clear individual shot to. This saves worrying
clear shot to. However, once a model has been allocated a hit,
about exactly which shooters are firing at which individual
other shots can pass though it and hit models behind. In other
models - not unreasonable when you consider that in
words, once a model has a hit allocated to it, it doesn’t block
reality the combatants are not frozen in time but
further shots, and models behind it become clear targets. If
constantly in motion and shooting as opportunity permits.
there are no clear shots to a model at all it cannot be hit and
no hits are allocated to it.

Core Game Rules 21

When it comes to allocating hits upon
weapon teams, such as support and
heavy weapons, hits are allocated
evenly amongst the crewmember
models. The weapon itself cannot be hit
unless it is an autonomous weapon
drone. We won’t worry about weapon
drones or other automated units for the
moment (see the Basic Armoury section
for more about these units).
PINS FROM SHOOTING
Every time a unit is shot at by an
enemy unit and suffers one or more
hits as a result, place a single pin
marker next to it. It does not matter
whether hits cause casualties or not,
a pin marker is placed on a unit
whenever it is hit. Nor does it matter
whether the shooting unit scores
one, two or more hits – only one pin
marker is placed on the target.
Units that are shot at by several
enemy units, or over a number of
turns, can potentially rack up
multiple pin markers. They become
more firmly pinned and their
effectiveness is reduced even
further.
As an exception to the general rule
that one shooting unit only inflicts
one pin marker, in the case of some
weapons and/or munitions two or
more pin markers can sometimes be
scored against a target in one go.
These specific exceptions are
covered later in the rules for
different kinds of weapons.
It can sometimes happen that one of
your own units is accidentally hit by
your own side’s shooting. These
accidental hits also result in a unit
taking pin markers as if the target
had been an enemy. Pins can also
occur in some situations as a result
of attacks from neural or
psychological weapons, but these
are relatively rare and we won’t
concern ourselves with such things in
the core rules.
ROLL TO RESIST
To resist a hit, the player whose model
has been struck takes the dice placed
next to the model and rolls it. If the
score is equal to or under the model’s
resist (Res) value the trooper has
avoided the shot or his armour has
deflected it. If the score is more than the
22 Beyond the Gates of Antares
model’s Res, the trooper falls casualty
and the model is removed as ‘dead’.
If a weapon team’s entire crew falls
casualty, then the weapon itself is also
considered destroyed. Destroyed
weapons are best removed for the sake
of clarity, but in the case of large heavy
weapons, players can alternatively leave
the model in place, marking it in some
fashion to indicate it is out of action.
The model’s Res stat is modified as per
the following table to give the Res
value. Where several identical models
have been struck and all require the
same roll, it is convenient to roll all the
dice together. Where different scores
are required it is necessary to roll
separately, in batches, or to roll
differently coloured dice, as the players
find most convenient.
RESIST STAT MODIFIERS
Modifier Situation
type Modifier
Strike Value (SV) of
shooter’s weapon - SV
Resist Bonus (RB)
of target’s armour +RB
Occupied Cover +1/+2/+3
Strike value: all weapons have a SV and
this can potentially vary according to
range. Apply the SV for the weapon that
has struck the model.
Resist bonus: all armours have a RB and
this can potentially vary in some
situations as explained later. Apply the
RB to the model’s Res stat.
Occupied cover: if the model is behind
or within cover it is more able to resist
attacks. Apply the modifier shown for
the cover type (see Occupied Cover)
Resist Rolls of 1s and 10s
When rolling to resist a hit, 10s always
fail as usual, regardless of any modifiers
that apply and regardless of the target’s
Res stat even if this is greater than 10.
When rolling to resist, if the score
required to make a successful resist is
less than 1, then the model can still
resist successfully if you roll a 1 followed
by another 1. This is the outside chance
to resist rule. This applies regardless of
the SV of the weapon: there is always an
outside chance to resist representing
the target ducking at the last moment,
the shot hitting some intervening
object, or some similar fluke of
circumstance. As with the outside
chance to hit rule this is an exception to
the general rule that rolls of 1 always
succeed, in this case a 1 gives you a
second chance to roll another 1.
Occupied Cover
If a target occupies cover a modifier is
applied to its Res in the form of a bonus:
+1, +2 or +3. In most cases, cover
bonuses come from terrain or from low
obstacles. For example, a boulder field
(+3), jungle (+2) or low scrubland (+1).
Most thick vegetation, cratered ground,
and scattered debris has an associated
bonus of +2 and this is the default value
for cover where not otherwise specified.
For our core rule set we won’t go into
details about types of terrain, we will
simply assume all occupied cover has a
bonus value of +2 and that players are
perfectly capable of determining for
themselves what kinds of terrain count
as cover.
A model is within cover if the centre of
its base lies within a terrain area that
offers a cover bonus. If a unit includes
models within different grades of cover,
or some in cover and some not, then
different resist bonuses will apply to
some models. This is why hits are
allocated to individual models before
working out resist rolls.
Apply the appropriate cover bonus to
the Res of a model if it is within cover as
defined above.
OVERHEAD FIRE
Overhead fire (OH) weapons lob a shot
into the air in such a way that it falls on
top of the target – something like a
modern mortar or howitzer. We work
out shooting for OH weapons somewhat
differently than other weapons, making
use of a marker or template to
determine exactly where a shot lands
and which units are hit.
This Shard is dying and with it the
experience and knowledge of a world.
But there are many worlds – many
Shards – and together we are
imperishable.
Cover From Low Obstacles.
If a model is placed directly behind a low obstacle so that it touches it, the model SPACECRAFT
counts as behind cover to any enemy that draws line of sight over the obstacle. The
models behind cover will get a bonus to their Res when they are hit. Spacecraft vary from tiny
transporters less than a hundred
metres long to vast craft tens of
kilometres in length and home to
untold millions of people. The
largest craft are usually moored
around a sun and rarely make the
interstellar journey, instead serving
as a base of operations within a
solar system. Depending upon their
size and function, spaceships utilise
a variety of different drive
mechanisms, but even the fastest
ships are incapable of reaching
light-speeds.
The red unit is behind a low obstacle and the blue shooters must
shoot over the obstacle – each red model is therefore behind cover. Most of the time required for
interstellar journeys is needed to
travel from gates to destination
Cover From Occupied Terrain. worlds. This can be anything from a
few hours to several months
If a model occupies terrain, the model counts as behind cover to any enemy that depending on where gates are
draws line of sight to that model. Models in occupied terrain get a bonus to their located within a solar system.
Res when they are hit. Although direct interstellar travel
occurs in a limited way between
nearby stars, such missions are
usually undertaken by unmanned
craft. A journey through interstellar
space takes many years, and only in
a few rare cases have the results
been sufficiently worthwhile to
establish permanent colonies.
Several alien species that evolved
upon worlds inaccessible by gates
The blue unit occupies an area of light ‘scrub’ cover – spread though local space in this
although some purple models are partially within the area, way, before discovering a gateway
the centre of each model’s base lies within the cover so each in an adjoining system.
blue model is considered to be within cover.

Drawing line of sight

from cover
A model drawing line of sight
from within occupied cover
or from behind a low obstacle
can do so without incurring a
penalty ‘to hit’ or conferring a
bonus to the enemy’s Res
because of it. The cover is
simply ignored when the unit
shoots. For example, a model
placed directly behind a low
obstacle can draw line of
sight over it as if it were not
there. We assume shooters
The red unit has taken cover behind a low obstacle and has a clear shot to both the blue unit in the open
position themselves so their and purple unit within light ‘scrub’ cover. No penalties are applied due to red shooting over the low
own cover does not get in the obstacle, although the purple models will get a Resist cover bonus from the area of scrub they occupy.
way of their shot!

Core Game Rules 23

OH weapons are indicated in the Special
Rule column for weapon stats. If a
weapon has the OH rule then it can only
shoot overhead as described here.
An infantry, command or support
weapon team can fire OH weapons with
either an advance or fire action. A heavy
weapon team can fire an OH weapon
only with a fire action. This is the same
as for other weapons, but is worth
repeating because many rules for OH
weapons differ from normal.
Weapons that have the OH rule cannot
use rapid fire or aimed fire. When they
make a fire action they cannot benefit
from these rules.
OH weapons can only engage targets at
ranges of more than 10” as measured in
the standard way. If a target falls within
this distance then the unit is too close
and the weapon does not shoot.
Remember, ranges are always measured
unit to unit, so in some cases it is possible
an actual weapon might be further than
10” from the target. Even where this is
the case, an OH weapon cannot shoot if
the unit is not more than 10” from the
target as measured in the standard way.
To shoot OH you will need either a shot
marker or overhead blast template
depending upon the kind of ammunition
used. The standard kind of explosive shot
makes use of the overhead blast
template. Special munitions generally
make use of a small shot marker instead
(e.g. a card chit, token or coin). See the
Special Munitions section on page 34 for
more about how these work. For now we
will assume we are shooting standard
explosive ammunition, for which we will
need an overhead blast template.
An overhead blast template is a circle 3”
across with a hole in the centre 1” across
- see the diagram right. It is used to work
out if blast weapons hit their target.
Position the template so that the centre
lies over the centre of the base of one
model in the target unit. This is the
aiming point. The shooter does not need
line of sight to this actual model. So
long as the shooter has line of sight to
the target unit in the usual way, any
model in the target unit can be selected
as the aiming point.
You will probably have to hold the
template in position over the target as
you check the accuracy of your shot.
Make your Acc roll to hit. Note that, as
shown on the Accuracy Stat Modifiers’
For a downloadable version of this template visit www.gatesofantares.com
24 Beyond the Gates of Antares
chart, there is an additional -2 Acc
penalty when shooting with an OH
weapon. This is on top of any other
penalties that apply, and these are
worked out in the same way as for other
shooting. Do include penalties for
shooting over intervening terrain – even
though the shot is lobbed over the top
of it – the view of the target is still
compromised by the terrain. Regardless
of any modifiers that apply, OH
weapons will always hit on a minimum
score of 1. Note that this means there is
no outside chance to hit with an OH
weapon as there is for other weapons.
Rolls of a 1 always hit.
If a hit is scored then the shell strikes
where you have positioned the template.
We call this a direct hit. The unit that you
have shot at is hit and the shot is resolved
as described for the weapon.
If the Acc roll to hit is a 10 the shot is
either a dud or flies off harmlessly and
has no further effect.
Otherwise, if the dice roll fails to score a
direct hit the shot goes off target but
might still score a hit on something –
although not necessarily the unit you
originally aimed at! To represent this,
move the template D5” in a random
direction and add +1” to this distance for
each pin that the shooting unit has. So,
for example, if the shooter has 3 pins a
‘miss’ would go off target by D5+3” (4-
8”). If any portion of the repositioned
template lies over the centre of any
model/s, then the unit that model is a
member of is hit. This could be the
original target or another unit entirely –
friend or foe! It is possible to hit more
than one unit in this way in cases where
the template lies over models from
different units.
Note that buddy drones are unit
equipment and not members of the unit
they belong to – a unit is not hit just
because a buddy drone lies beneath the
overhead blast template. Buddy drones
are always ignored when calculating line
of sight and distributing hits on units
(see Buddy Drones, page 37).
Having established which unit or units
are hit, remove the template and
resolve the effect for that weapon.
Weapons that shoot OH are generally
blast weapons that cause multiple hits
as described below.
Targeter probes
In cases where the target has been
marked by targeter probes, the ‘off
target’ roll for OH weapons is
reduced by –1” per targeter. This
makes fire directed by targeter
probes deadly accurate (see Targeter
Probes on page 39).
Suspensors are a fact of everyday
life: energy forcefields that enable a
drone to float through the air, or
buildings to hover suspended in
space – held in position by structural
suspensors.
Suspensor technology has largely
replaced physical motive force as a
means of propulsion – it provides the
means by which most vehicles,
drones and loads move from place to
place – invisibly, silently and speedily.
Bovan Tuk,
Mhagris Mercenary
Leader
Overhead Fire and Cover
When shooting OH weapons, Acc
modifiers for intervening terrain and
obstacles apply exactly as they do for
other shooting. However, no cover
bonuses apply to a target’s Res unless
models are inside a building or under a
roofed shelter of some kind, because the
shot plunges down on the target. If there
is any doubt about this, consider the shot
striking directly from above the target.
Speculative or ‘Blind’ Fire
OH weapons can also shoot at targets
even though the shooters do not have a
clear shot – in other words where the
shooters can’t see their target because
there is no line of sight. We call this
speculative fire or blind fire – depending
upon how Anglo-Saxon we are feeling.
When shooting speculative fire a roll of
a 1 is required to score a hit. The shot is
worked out in the same way as already
described, except that shots go off
target by D10” +1” per pin in a random
direction instead of D5”+1” per pin.
Designer’s Note.
Although I have not formulated this
into a rule, please take it as read that
an overhead weapon can only be fired
where there is headroom to do so. You
can’t fire an X-launcher from inside the
cellar of a building for example – the
ceiling tends to get in the way. The
core rules don’t make provision for
internal or enclosed spaces – I mention
this in case anyone was wondering!
Spotter Drones
If the shooter can patch sight to the
target via a spotter drone then
speculative fire shots that miss go off
target D5” “+1” per pin as if the
shooter had a clear shot to the
target. Spotter drones and patch
sight are described on page 37.
Randomising Direction
You can use whatever method you
like to find a random direction – but
as we are rolling a D10 anyway
(D5=half D10 score) it is convenient
to use the arrow shaped facet of the
D10 roll as a direction arrow. Roll the
dice close to the target and move
the template in the indicated
direction by the indicated score.
In humanity’s primitive past there
was simply life and death, but in the
Seventh Age death is rarely absolute
for humans born upon civilised
worlds. Whilst bodies can die or be
blown apart, minds can be
preserved at least in part and
transferred into machine
intelligence or cloned creatures.
Such dead are not truly dead, but
nor are they quite the same as the
living, and many who tread this path
ultimately choose self-annihilation
over eternal inhuman existence.
BLASTS
Some weapons have a blast effect and
they are described as blast weapons.
Most weapons that fire overhead (OH)
are of this type. Blast weapons inflict a
variable number of hits – D4, D6, etc – as
indicated in the Special Rules column of
the weapon stats.
When you score a hit on a unit with a
blast weapon, roll the dice indicated to
generate a random number of hits. Once
you have the number of hits, take that
number of D10s and allocate them
against the target unit, allocate the first
hit to the model/models under the centre
of the OH template if firing an OH
weapon. Otherwise, the player whose
unit has been hit distributes the hits
evenly amongst all the models in the unit
regardless of where exactly the shot has
landed or whether individual models
present a clear shot or otherwise.
Bull's eyes are ignored when shooting
with OH weapons. In the case of direct
hits, the first hit is always allocated to the
model at the centre of the template. All
other hits are allocated evenly amongst
the unit by the owning player.
If a target is down then it is harder to
inflict hits on the target. In the case of
blast weapons, rather than re-roll hits as
we would for other weapons, instead the
number of hits scored is halved rounding
down. For example, if a blast weapon
scores D6 hits and rolls a 3 the number of
hits is reduced to 1.5 rounding down to 1,
whilst a roll of 1 would round down to 0.
Remember that no bonuses for cover
apply when making resist rolls from
blasts caused by OH weapons, as noted
above. However, a few blast weapons
are not OH (X-slingers, for example) and
in these cases Res cover modifiers apply
as normal.
ASSAULTS
An assault occurs where a unit moves
into contact with an enemy unit. Assaults
usually involve an exchange of shots as
the attacker approaches the enemy, and
close quarter fighting using both regular
and close combat weaponry such as
tractor mauls, lectro-lashes and – in
extremis – fists and teeth.
Only infantry units and command units
can make an assault. Other kinds of
units, including weapon crews, are not
allowed to make an assault, although
they can be the targets of an assault.
To make an assault, a unit must be given
a run order, and the player must
announce he is attempting to make an
assault before moving the unit. Units
attempting an assault move at run rate
(2M) or they can use their order to sprint
(3M) where they would otherwise be
permitted to do so. A player wishing to
sprint must say his unit is sprinting when
announcing the assault. He might choose
to do this because the enemy are
obviously further away than a normal run
move, or because he anticipates the
enemy will try and escape. Either way,
say if the assaulting unit is sprinting when
you announce the assault. If a unit
sprints, it must test its Agility in the usual
way and takes a pin if this is failed.
If at least one model in the unit can move
into touch with an enemy model then the
assault move is successful. If the move is
successful, all the models in the
assaulting unit will fight regardless of
whether they can reach an enemy or not.
If a unit is unable to reach its target there
is no assault. This can sometimes happen
where the player has misjudged the
distance, if the enemy makes an escape
reaction or where intervening terrain
slows a unit down, for example. If a unit
attempts an assault but fails to reach its
target, then it moves as far as it can
towards the enemy up to the total
distance moved, i.e. either 2M or 3M
depending on whether the player
chooses to sprint or not. A unit that is
unable to reach the enemy will avoid
further terrain that would oblige it to test
its agility where possible.
For thousands of years no human
has had an original thought or had to
make a difficult decision. That is the
triumph of the Seventh Age. That is the
gift of Integrated Machine Intelligence.
Core Game Rules 25
MOVE TO THE ASSAULT WORKING OUT THE ASSAULT
When measuring to check that models can reach an enemy, remember to take into An assault is worked out in two separate
account anything that a model might have to move around. During an assault, stages. First, both sides work out point
models can move to within 1” of enemy they are assaulting; this is an exception to the blank shooting. Secondly, both sides
normal rule that forbids models from approaching to within 1” of enemy. work out hand-to-hand fighting. The
Each assaulting model must move as far as it can towards the target, and must try to assault can potentially end after either
touch an enemy model in the target unit if it can. Where a player has a choice of going of these stages, for example, because
around terrain or through hard going to reach the enemy, he must specify before one side is wiped out by point blank
moving the assaulting unit because there may be the potential move penalty or a risk shooting, or because one side has lost
of failing to contact the enemy due to distance. Aside from moving around terrain and the assault once hand-to-hand fighting
other enemies, models making the assault must move as directly towards the enemy is over.
as they can. Once a model touches an enemy its move ends. Any individual models
unable to reach an enemy still take part in the fight – they are close enough.
Reactions to Assaults
Just as in other situations, units making an assault must also retain their formation,
continuing to form a chain with models up to 1” apart. This overrides the In some situations units that are
requirement to touch an enemy or move a full move. This may result in individual being assaulted can attempt to
models failing to touch an enemy; however, this doesn’t matter so long as the make a reaction before the assault
assault is successful. takes place. These options are
discussed in the separate section
Reactions on page 29.

Point Blank Shooting

Only troops equipped with standard or
hand weapons take part in point blank
shooting. Support and heavy weapons
cannot shoot, but note that most crew
members do carry some kind of hand
weapon that they can use during an
assault. Standard or hand weapons with
a minimum range of 10” or greater
cannot shoot either, but most troops
equipped with weapons of this kind also
carry hand weapons for close defence
The Red unit assaults the blue unit and makes a Run move. Only the closest red model, (e.g. compression weapons). Troops that
can move into touch – but this is enough to mount a successful assault. The remaining red
models move as far as they can towards the enemy.
do not carry either standard or hand
weapons cannot shoot.

Assaults, Terrain and Obstacles

If the assaulting unit has to move through
hard going terrain to reach the enemy,
make the standard test. If this is failed the
usual penalty is applied to movement
through hard going terrain (half run pace
for models moving through hard going).
If the assaulting unit has to cross an
intervening low obstacle to reach the
enemy, make the standard test. If failed the
usual penalty is applied and models stop at
the obstacle without crossing.
Remember, units can move freely over a
low obstacle they are behind at the start of
their move. Assaulting units also ignore any
low obstacle the enemy unit is positioned
behind. When assaulting an enemy behind
a low obstacle, a unit must be able to reach
the target were the obstacle not in the way.
The blue unit assaults the red unit, which is in cover behind a wall. The nearest blue
If the assault is successful, models with
model has to be able to reach the red unit, and the assaulting troops are moved as far as
sufficient move are lined up against the they can into touch with the wall.
obstacle facing their opponents.

26 Beyond the Gates of Antares

Both the attacking unit and the unit
being assaulted can shoot point blank
fire. It doesn’t matter whether the
assaulted unit already has an order or
not, point blank shooting is part of the
assault and doesn’t need a specific order.
The usual routine is to work out the
shooting for both sides simultaneously.
The exception is if the assaulted unit has
made a stand and shoot reaction, in
which case it gets to shoot first – see
page 29. Unless the unit being assaulted
has a fire order, all shooting is worked
out as if an advance order had been
given to both sides. If the unit being
assaulted has a fire order, then it shoots
with the usual bonuses and mode
options for troops given a fire order (e.g.
rapid or aimed fire).
During point blank shooting we do not
worry about whether individual models
have a clear shot to their target – we
assume all models have a clear shot at
some point during the assault.
Therefore, every model will shoot
assuming it is armed with a weapon that
enables it to do so.
If the unit being assaulted is behind a low
obstacle or within cover, then this counts
during point blank shooting as it would
for any other shooting (i.e Res modifier
for occupied cover). The assaulting unit
can potentially be within cover too, in
which case it also receives the bonus, for
example if the entire assault is taking
place within a wood. Note that occupied
cover bonuses do not count for
subsequent hand-to-hand fighting.
If the unit being assaulted is down then
this is also taken into account during
point blank shooting. This means the
assaulting unit will have to re-roll its hits
during point blank shooting.
Work out shooting and remove any
casualties that occur. Place a pin marker
on units that suffer hits. Once point
blank shooting is complete, take an
immediate break test for units that
require it. If either side is broken as a
result, the unit is removed and the
assault is over. See Break Tests, page 28.
Hand-to-hand Fighting
Hand-to-hand fighting is resolved using
the combatant’s strength stat to score
hits rather than accuracy; otherwise, it is
worked out in a way comparable to
shooting. Stat modifiers that apply to
strength are given below.
STRENGTH MODIFIERS
Assault:The unit making the assault
+1 during the first round
Weapon: As described for weapon*
Designer’s note
There are no weapons that have
a strength modifier in the basic
game to date. I will change that
in due course –don’t let this
confuse you!
When it comes to taking resist tests, the
strike value (SV) for hits scored in hand-
to-hand combat is usually zero, unless
the attacking model is armed with a
hand weapon in which case the
weapon’s SV is used instead. Note that
some models do have a hand-to-hand
SV bonus of +1, +2 or more, as in the
case of Lavamites for example.
During hand-to-hand fighting all models
taking part in the assault on both sides
fight, just as for point blank shooting. It
does not matter whether individual
models are touching an enemy or not,
all models fight. It is even possible that
no models are touching, because point
blank shooting has eliminated touching
models; even so all models fight.
Unless stated otherwise, models strike
once in hand-to-hand fighting.
However, some weapons, and some
creatures, strike multiple times – in
which case roll the appropriate number
of dice ‘to hit’. For example, models
equipped with lectro-lashes strike twice.
Hand-to-hand fighting is worked out
simultaneously for both sides unless the
assaulted unit is down (see below). Work
out hits for both sides using strength
and allocate hits as for shooting:
distributing hits evenly with the attacker
allocating any 'bull's eyes' and the
owning player allocating remaining hits.
Then take resist tests and remove any
casualties that result. No resist
modifiers are applied for occupied cover
during hand-to-hand fighting.
The following stat modifiers apply to
strength during hand-to-hand fighting.
Hand-to-hand fighting is different from
shooting in so far as no penalty is
applied on account of pins accumulated.
Pins do not affect strength. The unit
retains its pin markers, but no penalty is
applied on account of pins during hand-
to-hand fighting.
When it comes to taking resist tests in
hand-to-hand fighting, no side can claim
an occupied cover bonus to its resist
value. No occupied cover bonuses apply
once units are fighting hand-to-hand, as
the unit making the assault has
effectively breached any cover the
enemy might otherwise have.
Once hand-to-hand fighting has been
worked out, remove any casualties, add
a pin marker to any unit that has
suffered one or more hits, and add a
further pin marker for each casualty
suffered by the unit during the fighting.
For example, a unit taking two
casualties from hand-to-hand fighting
will take three pins in total.
Down Units fighting
Hand-to-Hand.
If a unit has a down order whilst fighting
hand-to-hand combat then it strikes
after the enemy instead of
simultaneously. This means that any
models removed as casualties don’t get
to fight back. The enemy unit works out
its attacks, casualties are removed, and
pins placed. Then the down unit works
out its attacks and casualties are
removed and pins placed. Finally work
out the results of the fight, including
taking any break tests, as described
below.
Attacks against down units do not have
to be re-rolled during hand-to-hand
fighting. Down units get no advantage
in hand-to-hand fighting and suffer the
disadvantage of striking last.
RESULTS OF ASSAULTS
After hand-to-hand fighting is finished,
and assuming neither side has been
completely eliminated, the side that has
the greatest number of pin markers is
defeated and must take an immediate
break test. If both have the same number
of pins both must take a break test (see
Break Tests on page 28).
A million mechanical intelligences
focus and coalesce into human
shape, at first diffuse and shadowy,
and soon indistinguishable from man.
Yet it is not a man. It is an Imago:
a creature of the Shard.
Core Game Rules 27
As is the usual rule, any unit that
accumulates at least as many pins as its
raw command stat is broken without a
test. Such units are removed at the end
of hand-to-hand fighting when break
tests are taken.
CONSOLIDATION MOVES
After hand-to-hand fighting, each
surviving unit can make a single
consolidation move (M). A consolidation
move is just an ordinary move as if an
advance order had been given and the
unit were moving without shooting;
however, no order is required to make a
consolidation move. This move is
intended to enable units within 1” of the
enemy to fall back where necessary, and
for units to adopt a more sensible
position and formation following
combat.
If neither unit has been broken or
destroyed, and the winners do not want
to initiate a follow on combat (below)
then both sides must make a
consolidation move. When this happens
the defeated unit always moves first, and
in the case of draws roll off to decide
which unit moves first.
A unit can make a consolidation move
regardless of its order if it has one. If it
does not have an order, the consolidation
move does not prevent a unit receiving
an order subsequently that turn.
Enemy units cannot make a reaction to a
unit making a consolidation move
because the move is part of the assault
rather than a separate action resulting
from an order. This means surviving units
get a chance to reposition themselves
without the enemy making a reaction.
Following consolidation, the assault is
complete and surviving units are no
longer engaged in fighting. Note that
units making consolidation moves, and
which are already within 1” of the enemy
at the start of their move, must begin by
moving beyond 1” of all other units to
comply with the formation rules.
Opposing units will always separate once
a combat is over.
FOLLOW ON COMBAT
If neither unit has been broken or
destroyed following a round of hand-to-
hand fighting then the winners can
decide to continue the fight. In this case
fight a further round of hand-to-hand
combat in the same way. The +1 Strength
for making the Assault does not apply
28 Beyond the Gates of Antares
during follow-on combat. There is no
limit to the number of rounds of follow
on combat you can fight.
In the case of a draw both sides will
normally consolidate. However, if both
sides wish to do so they can fight a follow
on combat instead. This doesn’t usually
happen because in most situations one
side will wish to consolidate.
BREAK TESTS
A break test is a test made to determine
if a unit’s nerve holds under fire or
stress. If the test is failed the unit is
broken. This means its members panic
and run away, scatter, hide, freeze,
surrender, become gibbering wrecks, or
otherwise cease to participate in the
battle in any meaningful way. Units that
are broken are removed in their entirety,
in the same way as units that are
destroyed in combat. We imagine
individuals may escape and live to fight
another day – but as far as we are
concerned the entire unit has fallen
casualty and we therefore remove it
from the game.
BREAK TEST TRIGGERS
A break test is required in the situations
noted below. Note that it will often
happen that a test is triggered twice –
i.e. a unit has one or more pins per
model and has suffered half its number
as casualties. So long as both triggers
result from the same cause, only one
test is required.
One or more pins per model. A break
test must be taken if a unit is shot at and
hit by an enemy unit and has at least
one pin marker for every model in the
unit once casualties are removed and
pin markers placed. For example, if a
unit of 3 men has 2 or more pin markers
already, then it must take a break test if
it is shot at and hit, acquiring another
pin marker, regardless of whether it
takes a casualty or not.
Half number casualties. A break test
must be taken if a unit is shot at and hit
by an enemy unit and suffers half of its
number or greater as casualties. Take the
test after adding a pin marker to take
account of hits taken. For example, if a
unit of 5 men is shot at and suffers 2
casualties no break test is required, if the
same unit is shot at and takes 3 casualties
then a break test must be taken.
After hand-to-hand fighting. A break
test must be taken by a unit that is
defeated in hand-to-hand fighting as
described in the Assault rules. A break
test must be taken by both sides in the
event of a draw (i.e. if both sides have
the same number of pins). Take the test
once the combat results have been
worked out.
Designer’s note.
Bear in mind a break test is triggered
when a unit is shot at by an enemy
unit and hit as described, or following
hand-to-hand fighting. A test is not
required when pins are acquired from
other sources – such as exhaustion
following a sprint or a failed reaction
test. A test is also not required
following hand-to-hand fighting just
because a unit might have acquired
one pin per model, or because it has
suffered half casualties in the fight.
Although such things lie beyond the
scope of this rule set, enemy units
could conceivably include things such
as minefields, traps or otherwise
impartial but uncompromisingly
violent creatures, none of which are
strictly speaking ‘enemy units’ but
which might be expected to trigger
break tests anyway.
TAKING A BREAK TEST
A break test is taken against the unit’s
command stat minus 1 for each pin
marker on the unit, and minus a further
1 if the unit has more pins than it has
models. For example, if a unit of five
troopers has a command stat of 8 and
three pin markers its command value is
5, if a unit of two troopers has a
command stat of 8 and three pin
markers its command value is 4: -3 for
the pin markers and –1 extra because it
has more pins than models.
Roll a D10. If the dice is equal to or less
than the value you are testing against,
the test is passed and there is no further
effect. If the dice score is more than the
tested value the roll is failed and the unit
is broken. As with all these types of test
a roll of a 10 is always a fail and a roll of
a 1 is always a pass regardless of any
modifiers that apply or stat values.
Note that a break test is essentially the
same as an order test or a recovery test
and is taken against the same stat.
However, there are some special rules
associated with heroic leaders and with
some equipment that gives bonuses, re-
rolls or exemptions specifically to either
order tests or break tests, so we make
the distinction.
Automatic Breaks
A unit which has at least as many pin
markers as its raw command stat is
automatically broken without a test. So a
unit with a command stat of 8 is broken if
at any point it acquires 8 or more pins. If
a unit comprises models with different
command values use the highest.
REACTIONS
A reaction describes a situation where
an enemy unit’s order and subsequent
action can potentially trigger a response
from the opposing side. These reactions
interrupt the normal turn sequence.
Exactly how they work depends upon
the situation. Remember, reactions are
always made in response to actions
resulting from an enemy order: a unit
cannot react to another unit’s reaction.
INTRODUCING REACTIONS
The reaction rules introduce a layer of
additional complexity offering many
interesting tactical possibilities.
However, they take some getting used
to. It is therefore a good idea to
familiarise yourself with the basics of
game play before attempting to use the
reaction rules. It is suggested that players
fight at least one game without reactions
altogether, and then play at least one
further game with a limited selection of
reactions to try out the system; the go
down, firefight and ambush reactions
make an ideal introductory selection.
REACTIONS
Units that do not have an order can
attempt any one of the following
reactions apart from the Ambush
reaction. Only units with an ambush
order can make an ambush reaction.
Units with an ambush order can attempt
any one of the following reactions
including the ambush reaction. When
making any reaction apart from
ambush, the unit loses its ambush
status and the dice is turned to indicate
the equivalent action, e.g. Run in the
case of a Run to Cover reaction.
A unit that already has any order other
than ambush cannot attempt a reaction.
Aside from the go down reaction, a
reaction always requires a successful
reaction test. Even units on ambush
must take a reaction test when making a
reaction. The go down reaction does not
require a reaction test, just as a down
order does not need an order test, but
units that go down must make a
recovery test to return their down order
to the dice bag at the end of the turn as
explained already – see page 14.
Reaction Tests
All reaction tests are made the same
way. Roll a D10 and compare the result to
the unit’s initiative value. The unit’s
initiative value is its stat with a –1 penalty
for each pin marker on the unit. For
example, a unit with an Init stat of 7 and
three pin markers has an initiative value
of 7-3=4.
If the dice score is equal to or less than
the unit’s initiative value, the test is
passed. If the score is more than the
unit’s initiative value, the test is failed. If
the test is passed it can react as
described.
If the test is failed, the unit does not
react, and it immediately takes one pin
marker.
If the unit that has failed its test has an
ambush order, and it is testing to make
any reaction apart from ambush, then it
retains the ambush order.
In both of the cases described above,
failing a reaction test doesn’t change a
unit’s order status. If it had no order
previously it still doesn’t. If it had an
ambush order it still does. In both cases
the unit could potentially make a further
reaction if opportunity permitted.
Note that regardless of any modifiers
that apply to the unit’s initiative stat,
when making a reaction test a roll of a
roll of 1 will always succeed and a roll of
10 will always fail, even where the tester
has a stat of greater than 10.
Units with differing
Initiative stats
If a unit comprises models with differing
initiative stats, then use the highest
value for reaction tests. For example, in
a squad where one model has a value of
9 and three models have a value of 7,
the squad has a value of 9.
GO DOWN
A unit that is targeted by enemy
shooting can react by going down. This
happens when the shooting player
declares his target and before
measuring range and rolling ‘to hit’. The
player whose unit is being shot at
declares his unit is going down. The unit
is immediately given a down order. Take
an order dice from the dice bag and
place it by the unit with the down side
uppermost to show that it has gone
down. If the unit already has an ambush
order, turn the dice to down.
No reaction test is required for a unit to
go down, but note that a recovery test is
needed to return the order dice to the
dice bag at the end of the turn. In other
words, it’s dead easy to drop down, but
it’s much trickier to get up again!
STAND AND SHOOT
A unit that has been successfully
assaulted by an enemy can react by
shooting as the enemy approach. Make
the test as soon as the enemy has
successfully moved into the assault. If
successful, this gives the unit a fire order
and enables it to shoot first with its
point blank shooting. Remember,
because the unit has a fire order it can
use any fire modes normally available
when making a fire order, such as rapid
fire and aimed fire.
Place a fire order by the unit or turn its
ambush order to fire. Calculate the unit’s
point blank shooting, removing casualties
from the assaulting unit, adding any
necessary pin marker and making a break
test where necessary. Once this is
resolved, the assaulting unit can make its
own point blank shooting, assuming it
has not been broken of course.
ESCAPE!
A unit that has been assaulted by an
enemy can react by making an
immediate run move to try and place
itself out of reach of the assault. This
reaction has to be made before the
assaulting unit moves, as soon as the
opposing player announces the enemy
unit will attempt an assault. If the
assaulting unit wishes to sprint make
the sprint test first - then make the
escape test.
If a unit successfully reacts with an
escape, it immediately gets a run order,
and must make a run move (2M) that
puts as much distance between it and
the assaulting enemy as possible. In
other words it must run away in so far as
it can. The escaping unit can skirt round
any terrain, or obstacles, that would
Core Game Rules 29
potentially slow it down so long as the
resulting movement takes it
consistently away from the assaulting
enemy. If the escaping unit can
otherwise make a sprint move (3M) then
the player can choose to sprint to
escape, and must test agility in the usual
way at the end of the move if he does
so. If a sprint is being made the player
must say so before moving his unit: it is
not permitted to move 2M and then
decide to sprint afterwards. Take a dice
from the dice bag and give the unit a run
order. If the unit already has an ambush
order turn the dice to show a run order.
Once the escaping unit has made its
move, the enemy unit must complete its
assault in so far as it can, as described in
the Assault rules. If the escaping unit
hasn’t moved far enough to get out of
the way of its enemy, then the assault
happens anyway. In this case the
escaping unit cannot shoot point blank
because it is too busy trying to escape.
Remember, it is not permitted to make a
reaction against a unit that is making an
escape. Reactions can only be made
where units are issued orders. Think of a
reaction as happening in response to
something, so there isn’t enough time
THE MHAGRIS SUBTEX
There are many highly advanced
civilisations throughout Antarean space.
Some are independent worlds of the
Determinate, whilst others form part of
the Concord or Isorian Shard. Other worlds
still, and there are great number, are less
advanced, and some are downright
impoverished or even primitive. Feral
savages populate a good portion of the
Spill. The inhabitants of these worlds often
have little concept of the wider universe
around them. Societies where the
prevalent technology is so primitive that it
is impossible for the Concord or Isorian
IMTel to interact with them are called the
Subtex by the Nu-Hu elite. The worlds of
the Subtex might as well not exist as far as
the IMTel dominated societies are
concerned. These worlds might as well be
deserted or alien planets. Because they are
so primitive, they can’t really be
considered part of the Determinate either:
they are just out of the way islands in the
backwaters of Antarean space, places of
little consequence or importance. At least
– that is – until something changes, and a
world that no one has ever heard of
suddenly becomes of strategic significance
to great and covetous powers.
The planet Mhagris is one such world – its
30 Beyond the Gates of Antares
for another unit to react to a reaction.
FIREFIGHT
A unit that is shot at by an enemy unit
using a non-OH weapon with a fire order
at ranges up to 20” can react by shooting
back. This shooting takes place
simultaneously with enemy fire, so both
units shoot at full effect before both
remove casualties and make any
consequent break tests. Remember,
because the unit has a fire order it can
use any fire modes normally available
when making a fire order, such as rapid
fire and aimed fire.
Make the reaction test as soon as the
enemy range is measured and before
rolling 'to hit'. If a unit successfully reacts,
it immediately gets a fire order. Take a
dice from the dice bag and give the unit a
fire order. If the unit already has an
ambush order, turn the dice to show a
fire order. Resolve the fire action
simultaneously with the enemy.
In the case of weapons that have a
minimum range, including overhead
weapons, the enemy must be at a range
that would normally allow weapons to
fire. Note that there is no additional
inhabitants little more than a feral
population living amongst the ruins of a
once advanced society long since fallen
into decay. The Mhagris themselves speak
only of a time of legends when their
ancestors descended from the stars and
raised the cities whose shattered ruins
provide shelter for what few inhabitants
remain. As for the planet itself, it has little
to offer aside from a largely arid desert
stretching from pole to pole, and a
brutalised population scratching a living
from a hostile environment, with a thin,
sun scorched atmosphere and meagre
fauna. There are many worlds like Mhagris
and undoubtedly many human
populations doomed to slow extinction,
abandoned and ignored by the other
denizens of Antarean space.
It was the good fortune of the Mhagris,
however, that their very isolation should
prove their greatest asset – or at least this
was so as far as the Oszon Mercantile
League was concerned.
The Oszoni had long been engaged in a
bitter commercial feud with the Ky’am
Freetraders. Amongst the Freeborn of
space these kinds of trade rivalries amount
to bitter wars that can last for generations.
In this case, the immediate source of
restriction on what type of weapons can
engage in a firefight, overhead weapons
can take part in a firefight if they could
otherwise shoot at the target.
RUN TO COVER
A unit that has been shot at by an enemy
unit with a fire order at ranges greater
than 20” can react by running to cover,
either to place itself out of the line of
sight of the shooters, behind intervening
terrain or within cover, or at longer range.
This reaction has to be made before the
enemy unit shoots, once the opposing
player announces the enemy unit will fire
at the target and the range measured.
Note that units can't make a run to cover
reaction to shots from overhead fire
(OH). If shot at by a mix of OH and non-
OH fire a run to cover reaction is allowed,
but if the attack is only OH the reaction is
not allowed (a down reaction remains a
good option though).
If a unit successfully reacts, it
immediately gets a run order. Take a dice
from the dice bag and give the unit a run
order. If the unit already has an ambush
order, turn the dice to show a run order.
The unit makes an immediate run action
antagonism lay in rival claims to important
trade routes between the Concord, Isorian
Shard and Algoryn Prosperate, but the two
great households – or vardo as they are
called amongst the Freeborn – were age-
old enemies. The Oszani claimed the
Ky’am had reneged upon an arranged
marriage between the heir of the Ky’amak
Vardan and the Vardeta of the Oszoni
Vardo – the eldest son and daughter of
their respective ruling families. Such
arrangements are indeed common
currency amongst Freeborn households,
and are inevitably accompanied by a hefty
bride price to seal the bargain. Whether
the Vardeta abandoned her people of her
own free will, as the Ky’am claimed, or was
forcibly abducted, as the Oszoni
subsequently maintained, is no longer
possible to say for certain. Incidents of
bride stealing or bride raiding are common
enough amongst the ordinary Freeborn,
but amongst the ruling family of a great
and prosperous vardo such a thing is
deemed the gravest of insults.
When an Oszoni fleet encountered a
heavily laden Ky’am convoy as it emerged
from one of the more remote Prosperate
gates its commander did the only thing a
self-respecting Freeborn could – he
(2M) before the enemy shoots. This move
can be in any direction so long as it places
the unit either into or behind cover, or
behind intervening terrain or obstacle,
out of sight, or further away from the
enemy unit shooting at it. If the unit can
normally make a sprint move (3M) then
the player can choose to sprint, and must
test agility in the usual way at the end of
the move. A unit making a run to cover
cannot make an assault as it does so;
however, the move can potentially bring
the unit closer to other enemy units.
Remember, it is not permitted to make a
further reaction against a unit that is
making a run to cover reaction.
Reactions can only be made where units
are issued orders. Think of a reaction as
happening in response to something, so
there isn’t enough time for another unit
to react to a reaction.
AMBUSH
The ambush reaction is an exception to
the general rule for reactions in that
only a unit that has an ambush order
can make an ambush reaction. Units
cannot attempt an ambush reaction if
they have no order.
attacked! Within the automated defence
field of Antares such blatant hostility is a
risky affair. The feud between the two
great vardos was a matter of honour that
brooked no prevarication. Having
launched a dozen drones laden with fusion
bombs towards the lumbering Ky’am
vessels, the Oszoni found themselves
caught by the guardian forces and
scattered, but one craft was hurled down
into the photosphere of Antares –deep
below the high strata of gateways. Such a
manoeuvre spelled almost certain disaster,
but fortunately for this particular vessel,
just as its solar shielding began to fail, a
gateway yawned before it. It was a small
gateway deep below the regular strata,
and so close to the surface of Antares it
was almost completely hidden within the
churning photosphere. In the fractions of a
second it took for the ship’s native
intelligence to recognise the wormhole its
systems locked to it, and the gateway
plucked the Oszoni craft from destruction.
To an observer in what remained of the
Ky’am convoy it must have appeared that
their enemy had fallen into Antares and
perished. But it was not so.
The discovery of Mhagris by the battered
Oszoni ship offered an unforeseen
opportunity to the Oszon Mercantile
A unit can make an ambush if an enemy
unit moves within its field of fire, with
either a run or advance order, presenting
a clear shot as it does so. A unit cannot
make an ambush against an enemy that
has successfully assaulted it, although
such a unit will get a chance to make a
stand and shoot or escape reaction as
described above. A unit can ambush an
enemy unit that is assaulting another
unit, in which case the ambush reaction
must be made before any point blank
shooting during the assault itself, either
before or after any reaction from the unit
being assaulted.
The ambushing unit can shoot at any
convenient point during the enemy unit’s
movement; for example, once it has
moved from cover, or as it moves into a
closer range band. Where the ambushed
unit is making an advance, shots from
the ambushers are worked out before
shots from the ambushed unit.
If the ambushing unit successfully reacts,
then work out shooting as if the
ambushers had a fire order. Remember,
because the unit has a fire order it can
use any fire modes normally available
when making a fire order, such as rapid
fire and aimed fire. Once shooting has
League. Here was a world that lay close
upon the edge of the Algoryn Prosperate
but hidden away, an unseen and
unsuspected salient that would make the
ideal secret base for Oszoni operations
into the Prosperate. Not only that, but a
small fleet based upon Mhagris would be
able to mount a watch upon Ky’am activity
around the nearby gates. It was too good a
chance to pass up on. Over the following
years the Oszoni carefully built up an
advance supply base on Mhagris and
gradually extended the range and size of
their commercial fleets. As the Oszoni
grew more powerful the Ky’am were
forced to abandon many of the coveted
routes the two houses had fought over for
so long. At last, with the signing of the
Oszon-Algoryn Trade Treaty, the Ky’am
were finally eliminated from the
Prosperate trade routes altogether.
For the Mhagris themselves, the arrival of
the Oszon Mercantile fleets opened up
opportunities they could never have
dreamed of. If some of the population
were hostile at first the Oszoni soon won
them over, easily eradicating those few
too stubborn to appreciate their good
fortune. And although the native Mhagris
could never claim the distinction of being
true Freeborn – nevertheless they become
been resolved, the player has the choice
of either changing the unit’s order to fire
or retaining the ambush order.
If the ambushing unit fails its reaction
test, then it still shoots but
automatically changes its order to fire.
Note that, because the test is failed, a pin
marker is added before shooting is
resolved, and this is why the test must be
taken before ambushers shoot.
As you will see, ambushing units will
always shoot whether they pass their
reaction test or not. If they pass their
test they can retain their ambush order
and can potentially make a subsequent
ambush or other reaction in the same
turn. If ambushers fail their reaction
they shoot less effectively - taking a pin
marker - and lose their ambush status
reverting to a fire order.
Designer’s note.
The Ambush order is being used as a
form of overwatch. Just bear in mind
that the Ambush order doesn’t just
set the unit up to make an Ambush –
it also leaves the unit free to make a
reaction that turn – should it get the
chance. Ambush = ready and waiting!
willing retainers of the Oszon Vardo. This
servitude was itself a distinction within the
society of the Freeborn, where the
patronage of a great household was
considered no small honour. The Oszoni
found the Mhagris useful workmen, strong
and hardy human stock– inured to the
scorching deserts and thin atmosphere of
their home world. Mhagris warriors made
good fighters too, and many soon found
themselves recruited into the forces of the
Mercantile League, battling throughout its
wide commercial empire. If trade and
commerce were the lifeblood of the Vardo
then warfare was one of its major arteries
– its mercenary armies for hire to the
highest bidder. Local wars in the
Determinate filled the Oszoni coffers, with
the fierce Mhagris soon earning a
reputation that brought wealth and
honour to the Vardo. With the wars
between the Prosperate and Ghar Empire
continuing to threaten the Algoryn worlds
– not to mention Oszon commerce – many
Mhagris were hired to the Prosperate to
fight alongside Algoryn troops. All in all
the Oszoni are very happy to extend the
patronage of the Vardo to the people of
Mhagris, whose world is now home to one
of the most powerful, and most secret,
Oszon bases in all the Spill.
Core Game Rules 31
 Basic Armoury
This section describes the core
weaponry, armours and a selection of
equipment for the basic Antares ruleset.
ANTAREAN WEAPONS
The following types of weapons are
common to many forces throughout
Antarean space and come in many
shapes, sizes and designs depending
upon where they are manufactured.
Magnetic Weapons
Magnetic weapons propel a metallic,
metal-coated or metal-cored projectile
by means of a powerful magnetic pulse.
The everyday, effective, practical and
adaptable weapon carried by most self-
equipped troops of Antarean space is the
magnetic gun or ‘mag’ gun. Pistol,
standard, repeater, support and heavy
versions are all common battlefield
weapons. Mag guns are manufactured
throughout the galaxy to different
designs reflecting local technology levels.
The projectile itself takes the form of a
spike, needle, sliver or plug. It is the last
of these that gives cruder weapons of
this type the alternative name of plug
guns or pluggers – although other terms
such as spikers, needlers and sluggers
abound. The simplest versions are
unitary designs with shots fed from a
magazine. More sophisticated versions
are composite designs that can be
extended by adding sections together
to create a weapon that is larger and
more powerful, or smaller and handier.
The best quality mag weapons carry
their projectiles in a compression field
that is built into the body of the
weapon. A compression field can hold
thousands of rounds, and weapons so
equipped can synthesise their own
ammunition from an integral HCM
(Hyper Compressed Material) core given
a few hours.
All mag guns shoot a burst of
projectiles. The rate of fire varies, with
Concord and Isorian military
manufactured weapons being more
versatile, rapid firing and reliable in use.
Rapid firing repeaters are sometimes
32 Beyond the Gates of Antares
called zippers – a reference to the noise
made by the spikes as they fly past…
rather too closely.
Plasma Weapons
Plasma weapons are the most powerful
hand-held weapons available to the
military of the Concord, the Isorian Shard
and other advanced forces. Plasma
weapons are most likely to be carried by
elite shock troops, mercenary leaders,
and wealthy individuals with access to
advanced weaponry. Because they are
high-energy weapons, their effectiveness
depends on the weapon’s conversion
rate. This declines with long use, and
more rapidly so without sophisticated
routine maintenance. Plasma weapons
project an energy pulse powerful enough
to cause an ionisation reaction at the
surface of the target.
The standard weapon is the plasma
carbine and a single shot is usually
referred to as a plasma bolt. This is a
versatile weapon that can shoot a
steady high-energy bolt or a rapid pulse
of less powerful bolts, as required. A
larger support version provides greater
range and power. Concord and Isorian
strike units often employ autonomous
weapon drones armed with plasma
support weaponry.
Compression Weapons
Compression weapons use the same
technology as compression fields and
hyper-compressed materials, in this
case compressing everything within a
narrow field projected by the weapon.
The pulse rate is reactive to the density
of the atmosphere, and is calibrated to
HAND WEAPONS
Type of Range
weapon Effective Long Extreme
Mag Pistol 10 20
Plasma Pistol 10 20
X-Slinger 10 20
allow the compression effect to advance
as the initial pulses crunch the air in
front of the weapon. This permits
further pulses to reach progressively
forward. For this – and safety reasons –
most compression weapons don’t
function at short ranges and have only a
narrow range of effectiveness.
Generally speaking, compression
weapons are carbine-sized weapons that
are heavier and less convenient to carry
than a regular mag gun or plasma
carbine. They are commonly called
gripplers (General Purpose Light
Compressor) or compo guns. There is
also a version focussed for short-range
effect, a development of a tool used for
asteroid mining: the Mass Compactor or
Masser. Boromite Work Gangs often
carry Massers. Boromites are one of the
few panhuman types strong enough to
carry these weighty machines
comfortably.
X-Launchers
An X-Launcher is a portable magnetic
launcher that hurls explosive missiles,
bombs or special munitions packages,
such as Arc, Blur, Scramble, and Scoot.
They are bulky weapons, and their
regular explosive ammunition resists full
compression due to the charge. They are
of limited value on the battlefield unless
they can be emplaced or set up in a static
position. However, they are excellent for
lobbing shots onto fixed targets. The
bombs themselves are usually guided
either by internal sensors or by means of
mobile targeting probes. The standard X
ammunition contains high-concussion
explosives – the X simply standing for
explosive. The smallest X-Slinger version
Strike Value Special Rules
30 1
30 2
None 0 Blast D3
 shoots a micro-bomb and is often built
into a wrist-mounted unit, or it can be
STANDARD WEAPONS sub-mounted onto another weapon or
device.
Type of Range Strike Value Special Rules
weapon Effective Long Extreme Fractal Weapons
Mag Gun 20 30 60 1 Fractal weapons are large crew served
machines that are primarily designed for
Mag Repeater 20 30 None 0 RF 2 attacking stationary targets. The Fractal
Plasma Carbine bombard, for example, is a substantial
• Single Shot 20 30 50 2 weapon that is most often seen in sieges
• Scatter 20 30 None 1 RF 2 and urban fighting where its ability to
Compression 10-20 30 50 2/1/0 No Cover destroy hard targets from a distance is
Carbine key to establishing control of the fighting
Micro-X 10-20 30 50 0 OH, Blast D4, zone. Fractal weapons utilise molecular
Launcher No Cover resonance to break apart solid material.
Although slow to develop full power,
their ability to break apart buildings and
machines is almost limitless.
A compact version developed for use in
SUPPORT WEAPONS mining and tunnelling is the Frag Borer
Type of Range Strike Value Special Rules carried by Boromite weapons teams.
weapon Effective Long Extreme Fractal weapons are also known as
Disintegrators, Fraggers and – especially
Mag Light the largest versions - Smashers.
Support 30 50 100 2 RF 3
Light Mag WEAPON STATS
Cannon 30 50 100 3 The accompanying tables summarises
Plasma Light the stats for common weapons in the
Support 30 40 80 3 RF 3 game. Further special rules apply to
Plasma Cannon 30 40 80 5 some weapons as noted separately.
Weapons unique to specific forces are
Compression included in the force lists for those
Cannon 10-30 40 80 4/3/2 No Cover armies.
Fractal Cannon 30 40 80 2 (+1 max 5)
X-Launcher 10-30 60 120 1 OH, Blast D5, TYPES OF WEAPONS
No Cover
Different kinds of units carry different
kinds of weapons. Most infantry squads
consist of troops with standard
weapons. Weapons teams are based
HEAVY WEAPONS around a single support or heavy
weapon with crews. Infantry squads,
Type of Range Strike Value Special Rules command squads and weapon team
weapon Effective Long Extreme crewmen sometimes carry hand
weapons in addition to other weapons.
Mag Heavy Special rules apply to support and heavy
Support 30 50 100 3 RF 5 weapons as detailed throughout the
Heavy Mag rules. Additional rules for special types
Cannon 50 100 250 6 of weapon are noted overleaf.
Plasma
Bombard 50 100 200 7
Compression
Bombard 10-50 100 150 9/7/5 No Cover
WEAPON SPECIAL RULES
Fractal Blast Dx: Blast weapon. See page 25.
Bombard 50 100 200 3 (+2 max 10)
RFx: Rapid Fire weapon. See page 20.
X-Howitzer 10-50 100 250 2 OH, Blast
OH: Overhead firing weapon. See
D10, No Cover
page 22.
Mag Mortar 10-30 40 50 3 OH, Blast
D10, No Cover No Cover: No Res modifier for
occupied cover applies.

Basic Armoury 33

Anti-Gravity or AG devices are
personal suspensor field generators
that allow an individual to hover or
float through the air, or descend a
sheer drop in safety. AG is another
benefit of graviton manipulation
technology – the same advanced
Builder technology that lies at the
heart of hyper-compression and
suspensors.
TEAM WEAPONS AND CREWS
Weapons teams comprise a weapon
plus crew. The number of crewmen
needed to operate a weapon at full
effectiveness is two for a support
weapon and three for a heavy weapon.
A team can include more crew than are
necessary to operate a weapon, in which
case any additional crew can fight with
whatever weapons they carry.
If the number of crew falls below that
needed to operate a weapon at full
effectiveness then it suffers penalties to
its Ag tests for crossing terrain, and it
suffers penalties to its Acc when
shooting. A weapon needs at least one
crewman to operate it, and if all crew
are killed the weapon itself is
automatically removed as a casualty.
WEAPON DRONES
A support or heavy weapon drone can
sometimes comprise a single unit on its
own, in which case the drone plus any
attendant buddy drones forms a unit.
See the rules for Drones on page 37.
FURTHER SPECIAL
WEAPON RULES
Plasma Carbines
Plasma carbines have two shooting
modes: a single focussed shot and
scatter. The first represents a short burst
and the second a series of rapid bursts.
A unit that is given a fire order can use
either mode, but all the models in the
unit armed with plasma carbines must
use the same mode. A unit given an
advance order can only shoot a single
shot.
Compression Guns
Compression guns feed off mass and so
ignore occupied cover modifiers for Res.
When calculating damage from
compression guns disregard Resist
modifiers for occupied cover. Also,
Compression guns that score a hit on a
34 Beyond the Gates of Antares
compression shell take the protective
shell down automatically without causing
damage (see page 36.
Compression guns have a minimum
range of 10”. They cannot be used to
shoot at targets under this range.
Remember, range is always measured
unit to unit, even if the actual distance
between a model carrying a compression
gun and its target is greater than 10”,
shooting is not allowed if the opposing
units are at less than 10” range. This
range restriction is especially significant
during an assault. For this reason troops
armed with compression guns often carry
additional hand weapons as a back up.
The strike value (SV) of a compression
gun varies depending upon the range to
the target. Remember, as with minimum
range, the distance is always measured
unit to unit and not between individual
models. The SV is shown as
effective/long/extreme, e.g. 2/1/0 =
effective 2, long 1, extreme 0.
Mass Compactors are a type of
compression tool used by Boromites as a
weapon. They are adapted to work at
short ranges and so don’t have the
minimum range of other compression
weapons; however, their maximum
range is very limited. See the Boromite
force list.
Fractal Guns
Fractal Guns are large, mechanically
complex, crewed support or heavy
weapons. They are mostly used in urban
warfare and are primarily designed for
taking out stationary targets such as
emplacements, buildings, and fixed
installations, for example a Transmat
array.
Once a Fractal gun hits its target it locks
on. So long as the Fractal gun receives a
Fire order each turn, and so long as the
target does not move, the Fractal gun
will automatically hit the same target
each time it shoots. If either shooter or
target move, or if the Fractal gun
changes its order to anything other than
Fire – either voluntarily or otherwise –
then it must roll ‘to hit’ its target once
more.
Fractal guns have a strike value (SV)
expressed as a basic value plus a bonus,
e.g. 2+1. The basic value is the value
generally used. If the fractal gun
continues to auto-hit the same target as
described above, add the bonus to the SV
for each additional time the weapon fires
up to a maximum value of 5 for a Fractal
Cannon (support) and 10 for a Fractal
Bombard (heavy). So, the first hit upon a
stationary target from a Fractal Cannon
would be with SV 2, the second SV 3, the
forth SV 4 and so on, up to the maximum
value of 5.
SPECIAL MUNITIONS
PACKAGES
Magnetic launchers
An X-launcher is a portable magnetic
launcher that hurls explosive missiles,
bombs or special munitions packages,
such as Arc, Blur, Scramble, Scoot and
Grip. Only Support X-launchers, Heavy X-
Howitzers and Heavy Mag Mortars can
use these Special Munitions packages.
Micro X-launchers and X-slingers can only
use standard Blast ammo.
Shooting Special Munitions
Because many special munitions affect
an area of ground, rather than an enemy
unit, the target can be any point on the
battlefield. Work out where the shot
lands using a shot marker rather than the
overhead template. If the munitions
package has a radius of effect, as many
do, this radius is measured from the
centre of the marker.
Scrambler (kinetic field dispersant).
Scrambler, or scramble shot, affects
kinetic field defences such as reflex
armour, synker shields and batter drones.
If a scramble shot lands within 3” radius
of a batter drone then its shield is
rendered ineffective whilst the scrambler
works and the batter drone remains
within 3” of it. If a scramble shot lands
within the bounds of a synker shield then
the shield is rendered ineffective whilst
the scrambler works works, i.e. if the
centre of the marker lands within the
bounds of the field. If a scramble shot
lands within 3” of a unit armoured with
reflex armour, the reflex armour of the
entire unit is rendered ineffective whilst
any model in the unit is within 3” radius
of the working scrambler. At the end of
the turn roll a dice – on a 1-5 the
scrambler has no further effect – on a 6-
10 it continues to have an effect.
Arc (point defence energy sink). Arc
attracts the fire of weapons drawing a
line of sight within 3” radius of it. Any
shot that must draw LOS within 3” of the
arc to hit its target must roll a D10 – and
must score 1-5 to bypass the arc. Any
shot rolling 6-10 is diverted and has no
effect. Arc affects all shooting from both
sides. Arc does not affect overhead shots
unless the actual aiming point of the OH
shot is within 3” of the arc, in which case
it will affect the shot regardless of
whether the shooter draws LOS through
the Arc area of effect or not. At the end of
the turn roll a dice – on a 1-5 the arc has
no further effect – on a 6-10 it continues
to have an effect. If a shot has to by-pass
multiple arcs then roll for each
separately.
Blur (spacial distort generator). Blur
distorts localised space and makes it all
blurry! If a blur shot lands within 3” radius
of any model in a unit, the entire unit
suffers a –D3 Acc penalty each time it
shoots so long as any model in the unit
remains within 3” of a working blur shot.
Roll the D3 each time the unit shoots and
apply the penalty rolled. At the end of
the turn roll a dice – on a 1-5 the blur has
no further effect – on a 6-10 it continues
to have an effect. If a unit is affected by
several Blurs then roll one penalty dice
for each blur shot and apply the greatest
penalty of those rolled – i.e. don’t add
the penalties together, just use the
highest value.
Scoot (sub-harmonic pulser). Scoot
shells emit strong low frequency sound
blasts that affect the nervous system of
living creatures; however the effect is
temporary as the pulses only last so long.
At the end of the turn, once dice have
been returned to the dice bag, roll a dice
– on a 1-5 the scoot has no further effect
– on a 6-10 it continues to have an effect.
Any unit with any models within 3” radius
of a scoot shell can only be given a run or
down order. No other orders are
permitted. Any unit within 3” of a scoot
shell can only make a down reaction
when making a reaction. No other
reaction is permitted – not even if the
unit already has an Ambush order. For all
the affected units, return orders to the
dice bag before testing for the continuing
effect of scoot, including any Ambush
orders, and test to return down orders to
the dice bag in the usual way.
Scoot does not affect units of drones – it
only affects living creatures – being
sound based it is also dependent upon
atmospheric density, but we need not
worry about that for now.
Net (Suspensor net). Net shells emit a
suspensor field pulse that resists
anything that attempts to move. This has
a paralysing effect both physically and
mentally upon units hit by it. Use a
Hansa Nairoba,
Freeborn Mercenary captain
standard overhead blast template to
represent the net pulse. If a unit is hit by
net it takes no damage, but rather than
suffering 1 pin from the hit it takes D3+1
pins (2-4) from support launchers, and
D6+1 pins (2-7) from a heavy launcher
(smaller X-launchers cannot shoot net).
Net doesn’t otherwise have any affect
upon the target. Targets that are down
get no benefit – they are affected the
same as other units. The shell does not
persist from turn to turn, as do many
other special munitions; it just dumps
pins on the target. If a target is hit by a
series of net shells it will accumulate pins
from each. If the same net shell should
hit two or more units, each suffers pins as
described.
Grip (flux field suspensor). Grip makes
local space dense and sticky so it is hard
to move about – this is called a grip or
flux field, or tangler shot. It is mostly
used to prevent enemy moving over
open ground. A grip field creates a 3”
radius area of extra hard going ‘terrain’
centred upon the spot where the shell
lands. There is no terrain as such of
course – the field is invisible – but apply
penalties as if movement were through
extra hard going (-2 Ag). If the radius
encompasses terrain, then just apply the
penalties for the grip field (i.e. -2 Ag in
total), don’t add the penalties together
even if the terrain is already extra hard
going to start with. Similarly, if two or
more grip fields overlap treat them as a
continuous area with the same penalty,
don’t add the penalties together. At the
end of the turn roll a dice – on a 1-5 grip
has no further effect – on a 6-10 is
continues to have an effect.
Homer (nano-beacon). Homer provides a
signal that is strong enough to function
as a temporary transmat node, but it can
also be used as a homer beacon for any
further OH shooting from the same unit,
or from any OH fire that can patch-site to
the unit that shot the homer. When
shooting onto a homer signal shots strike
exactly the same point on any D10 roll
other than a 10 (which miss and are
ignored). No other modifiers apply.
Transmat nodes are slave transmat
terminals that can be used to move
objects/units to or from a more distant
transmat array – don’t worry about these
for now. A homer will continue to work
for the rest of the game but can be
destroyed or deactivated in the same
way as a targeter probe, see page 39.
Designers note.
I have included rules for these even
though they are essentially notes for
work in progress – because they are
interesting! SM packs involve
interactions with other parts of the
game system, so they need to be
kept fairly open for now. We do keep
changing them! They will need
careful playtesting once the core
rules are properly bedded down. If
you use these, be prepared to
address inevitable conflicts within
the game system as you go.
ARMOURS
The military forces of Antarean space
have to be prepared to face battle in
many different atmospheres and
environments. Some are deadly in their
own right. Although not all
circumstances require troops to wear
environmentally sealed armour, such
situations are common enough to make
the use of sealed enviro-suits standard
practice amongst Concord and Isorian
forces. Some armoured suits are
constructed from hard or semi-rigid
panels, but most actual armours take the
form of energy or shield defences. These
energy shields are articulated across
metallic nodes, panels or similar hard
points on enviro-suits. A personal shield
defence covers the entire body, providing
all-round protection and potential
environmental isolation. The most
effective armours are those
incorporating physical as well as energy-
based seals, as worn by the Concord and
Isorian military.
Reflex Shield
A reflex shield provides a basic energy-
type protective armour that extends
around the individual wearing it. Reflex
shields absorb kinetic energy, stopping
Basic Armoury 35
physical objects as well as energy-based
weapons. Reflex shields are vulnerable
to scrambler (kinetic field dispersant) –
see Scrambler.
Troops equipped with reflex shields add
+1 to their resist (Res) stat.
Hyper-light Shield (HL or HLS)
Hyper-light shielding recognises the
energy signature of incoming attacks
and projects a specific, focused counter
against it. The more distant or slower
the attack, the more effectively hyper-
light shielding is able to identify and
defend against it. Hyper-light shielding
is the standard armour worn by Concord
military units.
At ranges of up to 10” a hyper-light
shield adds +1 to the target’s Res.
Remember, range is measured unit to
unit, and it is this range that counts
when calculating these values. This
includes all point blank firing from
assaults and hand-to-hand fighting, and
any reaction shooting against assaults
at up to 10”.
At ranges of greater than 10” a hyper-
light shield adds +2 to the target’s Res.
Against any weapon that has a blast
effect – regardless of range – hyper-light
shielding adds +3 to the target’s Res. HL
shields are very effective against blast
damage.
Phase-armour
Phase-armour desynchronises the
wearer’s position in real-space isolating
the target from harm, but must then
resynchronise for the wearer to interact
with the environment. In practice, the
phase field is in constant flux, and to be
most effective the wearer must expand
the length of time phased out, reducing
the overall amount of active time. This
technology is currently unique to the
Isorians – but captured or traded
armours are highly prized throughout
Antarean space.
During an assault, phase-armour adds +1
to the target’s Res at all stages, including
any reaction shooting, point-blank
shooting and hand-to-hand fighting that
takes place as part of an assault.
In other situations phase-armour adds
+2 to the target’s Res. However, the
player can choose to increase this to +3
or +4 for the whole unit if it is shot at
and any hits are scored. The player must
declare he is doing this once hits have
36 Beyond the Gates of Antares
been scored and before hits are
allocated, declaring whether he is
boosting to +3 or +4.
If the unit’s armour is boosted to +3 it
gains one additional pin marker as a
result of being hit (2 in total). If the
unit’s armour is boosted to +4 it gains
+D3 additional pins as a result of being
hit (2-4 in total). Extra pin markers
represent the additional time the unit
must spend phased out.
Compression shell
A compression shell is a kind of
suspended hyper-compression field that
is capable of neutralising any kind of
attack. However, it can only be used
where the bounded surface is a hard
casement, and there is a limit to the
effective size of the protective shell. It is
commonly used to protect static weapon
drones – but also some kinds of vehicles
and small installations. It can be used to
protect men inside hardened casements,
but the trade off against mobility makes
it impractical as battle armour.
A target protected by a compression
shell cannot be damaged unless the
protective shell is brought down first.
When a unit shoots at a target protected
by a compression shell, or strikes it in
hand-to-hand fighting, total up the
number of hits and roll a D10 for every hit
scored. To bring down the compression
shell you must roll at least one ‘1’ – any
score of 2-10 fails to affect the shell. If the
shell is taken down the attacking unit
inflicts no damage – the shell absorbs all
the damage that would be caused by all
the attack/s. However, the shell is
rendered ineffective from that point on,
unless the target is a unit, in which case
the shell is automatically re-established
the next time the unit passes an order
test and makes an action.
ARMOURS SUMMARY
Armour Type Modifer
Reflex Shield +1 Res
Hyper-light
Shield +1 Res up to 10”, otherwise +2, +3 against blast hits
Phase
Armour +1 Res in Assaults otherwise +2 OR +3/+4 and +1/D3 pins
Compression
shell Nullifies all damage. Taken out on a 1 or by compo weapons
Synker field -2 Acc against individuals within field boundary
Compression weapons automatically
bring compression shells down if they hit.
Note that the shooting unit causes no
further damage, not even if it includes
shooters armed with other types of
weapons. As before, if the target is a unit
the shell is automatically re-established
the next time the unit passes an order
test and makes an action.
As you will have gathered, it is
impossible to damage a unit protected
by a compression shell by shooting with
a single unit – regardless of the number
of individual weapons fired. A target can
only be damaged once the compression
shell has been brought down.
Compression shells around installations,
buildings and other features that are not
units are usually down for good once
they are taken out. This is the default
rule. However, we may wish to allow
compression shells to reactivate in some
scenarios or circumstances – for
example, with a dice roll made at the
end of the turn. This is something that
will be covered in individual scenarios.
Synker Shields
A Synchronised Kinetic Energy Shield –
more conveniently known as a synker
shield – is a point defence field,
generally used to protect buildings and
similar static positions. Its energy field is
‘synchronised’ to the structure it is
designed to protect, but the protection
extends to units within or upon the
structure. The synker shield is the same
type of kinetic energy defence as a
batter shield, and it works in a similar
way in the game (see Batter Drones on
page 37). The difference is that a batter
shield is mobile and covers a specific
arc, whilst a synker shield is static and
encloses an area.
The synker shield presents no
impediment to sight or movement – so
enemy can take a clear shot through it
as if it were not there. However, it
counts the same way as intervening
cover for purposes of modifying an
enemy’s Acc roll to hit – with a –2 to hit
modifier. This is in addition to any actual
intervening cover modifiers that might
apply. An enemy might conceivaby
shoot through two or more synker
shields, and batter and synker shields
can potentially overlap, but in all cases
the shield modifier is always –2 in total;
combined kinetic shields do not give a
cumulative modifier.
The maximum size of a synker shield
can be extended to protect a fair-sized
building, but we shall set a nominal
maximum size of 10” across. Structures
larger than this require multiple fields.
DRONES
‘Drone’ is a cover-all term for self-aware
machines that are capable of thought
and decision-making. Drones are fully
sentient and have a sense of identity
and personality, although some have
only rudimentary or narrowly focussed
characters. A weapon system can be a
drone – operating without any kind of
crew – as can a vehicle or even a
building. Spacecraft and other more
complex constructs are likely to consist
of multiple drones that operate
together as a coherent shard. Drones
can be androids or task oriented robots
of practically any appearance. We are
not immediately interested in all kinds
of drones, but only in those that have a
direct role to play in our game.
BUDDY DRONES
Buddy drones are small hovering
unarmed drones that typically
accompany units of troops or support
weapons. There are many different kinds
of buddy drones, for example spotter
drones and batter drones. They form part
of a unit’s equipment, but are not
members of the unit as such. However,
Buddy drones must remain in formation
with their unit as if they were members
of it, and other models in the unit treat
them as members of the unit for
purposes of keeping formation.
Otherwise they are ignored: they do not
block the line of fire of other models,
don’t measure to or from them when
calculating ranges for shooting, don’t
count them as part of the unit when
placing blast markers, and don’t measure
from them when working out proximity.
In other words just ignore them!
Buddy drones don’t have stats as such.
They always move along with the unit
they are with. Their movement distance
is only constrained by the unit’s
formation; otherwise, they can move
any distance when the unit makes a
move. An enemy cannot deliberately
target a unit’s buddy drones, and hits
are never allocated against them. If an
enemy can see a buddy drone but
cannot see any members of its unit,
then the enemy cannot see the unit and
does not have a clear shot. However,
when shooting against a unit that has
one or more buddy drones, if you roll a
bull’s eye you can choose to hit a drone
rather than a member of the unit. If you
hit a buddy drone it is automatically
removed once all the shooting unit’s fire
has been resolved. In reality, the drone
is probably not seriously hurt, but the
drone’s sense of self-preservation
causes it to shoot off skyward to avoid
danger, so we just remove it for
convenience. If the entire unit is
destroyed any remaining buddy drones
are also removed at the same time.
Although buddy drones cannot be
deliberately attacked by shooting or
hand-to-hand fighting, they can be
affected by some weapons and
situations. These are special cases and
need not concern us for the moment.
SPOTTER DRONES
Spotter drones are the most common
type of buddy drone. They are present in
many units of troops. Spotter drones
interact directly with the nanosphere
and can relay information from their
sensors directly into helmet sensors,
implants or other devices or drones.
They can also relay information to other
spotter drones that are part of the force.
This enables units that have spotter
drones to identify targets more easily in
many cases.
Spotting Through Terrain
If a unit has one or more spotter drones
it can potentially take a clear shot at
targets that are otherwise impossible to
see, as follows.
A unit with a spotter drone can
potentially draw a line of sight to a target
through up to two intervening low
obstacles or light terrain features – or
through one of each – i.e. through two
items of terrain instead of the usual one.
To do so it must make a successful test
against a value of 5 – so, roll 5 or less on a
D10 to succeed. If this test is failed there
is no penalty, but the drone fails to spot
the target. If the drone spots the target
then the unit has a clear shot to the
target, although it will have to take
account of modifiers to Acc for shooting
through two lots of intervening terrain.
A spotter drone can also potentially see
through one intervening area of light
terrain or low obstacle, to or from a
target in occupied dense terrain. Make a
test as described above. If successful,
the shooters can draw LOS over one
intervening light terrain/area or obstacle
to the target, even though the shooters
and/or target are occupying dense
terrain. See Shooting page 17.
Patch Sighting
If a unit is firing overhead and is
employing speculative fire the unit’s
spotter drone can patch sight to any
other friendly spotter drone within 20”
range. It does not matter whether the
unit’s own drone can ‘see’ the drone it is
patching to, because the two connect via
the nanosphere between them. If a
spotter drone can patch sight to a drone
that can draw a clear shot to the target,
then instead of rolling to go off target by
a basic D10”, roll D5” as if the firer had a
clear shot to the target. Note that a 1 is
still required to score a direct hit when
patch sighting, but the off target roll is
treated as if the firer had a clear shot to
the target.
Note that spotter drones can see what
other spotter drones within 20” of them
can see. This doesn’t mean a chain of
spotter drones can see over more than
20”! It’s just ‘what other spotter drones
within 20” can see’.
BATTER DRONES
The batter drone is a defensive buddy
drone that projects a Kinetic Energy
Shield (KES) or batter shield that can
deflect or absorb incoming attacks. This
shield takes the shape of a curve and is
represented by a card or plastic template
6 inches end to end.
The batter drone projects this shield
automatically; whenever the drone
moves the shield is repositioned with it.
The shield is placed with the outer
convex side pointing away from the
Basic Armoury 37
 For a downloadable version of this Batter Drone template visit:
drone, with no part of the shield more
than 5” from the drone model. The shield
is repositioned whenever the drone
moves, and the shield can also be
repositioned whenever the unit is given
an order, regardless of whether the order
is successful or whether the order results
in movement – e.g. if it makes a fire or
rally action.
The batter shield presents no
impediment to sight or movement, so
troops can take a clear shot through it
as if it were not there. However, it
counts the same way as intervening
terrain for purposes of modifying an
enemy’s Acc roll to hit – with a –2 to hit
modifier. This is in addition to any actual
intervening terrain modifiers that might
apply. Two or more batter shields can
potentially overlap, but the Acc modifier
is always –2. Batter shields and
stationary synker fields may also
overlap, but once again the modifier is
always –2. Combined kinetic shields do
not give a cumulative modifier.
Although models can theoretically be
positioned within the template area of
the batter shield, such models are not
protected by it – in this case the shield is
no longer ‘intervening’ terrain.
Note that this Acc modifier does not
affect shots made from behind the inner
concave side of the batter shield. The
protected unit, and units behind it, can
shoot through the shield without penalty.
MEDI-DRONES
A medi-drone is a mobile medical unit
that is able to administer immediate care
to the wounded.
If a unit has a medi-drone then it can re-
roll one failed Res test each time it is shot
at, fights hand-to-hand, or otherwise
suffers damage. This re-roll can be used
by any member of the unit. Just take the
test again. If the test is passed the medi-
drone has done its job and the individual
is saved to fight on. If the test is failed the
individual is past help.
38 Beyond the Gates of Antares
www.gatesofantares.com
Note that if a medi-drone is hit with a
bull’s eye then it is removed once all fire
has been resolved, as is the standard rule
for buddy drones. This means it can
function as normal during that round of
shooting, but is removed once shooting
has been resolved.
When it comes to re-rolls of Res results,
we will make a general rule as follows:
you can never re-roll a result that has
already been re-rolled. In other words,
regardless of the number of re-rolls you
might be allowed from different sources,
you can only re-roll a single failed Res roll
once. This is important because leader
models are also allowed re-rolls in some
cases (see Sample Armies page 40).
AUTONOMOUS DRONES
There are many kinds of autonomous
drones in the Antarean universe and they
are a common feature of everyday life on
most worlds. Drones are individual
sentient machines with distinct
personalities, but their characters are
predisposed to develop within broad
parameters set at the time of their
manufacture. For example, fighting
drones will be naturally bellicose and
lacking in imagination compared to an
architectural drone or a drone built to
play music or perform dance. All drones
have a sense of self-preservation and are
capable of feeling fear, elation and
excitement. However, in drones built for
combat these tendencies are secondary
compared to a sense of duty and martial
honour. Despite this, experience affects
drones just as much as people, and
individual drones can be brave or
aggressive, or timid and fearful,
sometimes to the extent that they have
to be reassigned to different roles.
Weapon drones designed to carry one or
more weapons – usually a support or
heavy weapon. Weapon drones do not
require a crew to operate them. They are
completely autonomous sentient drones.
Most weapon drones are mounted onto a
suspensor bed that allows them to float
over the ground. Rules for weapon
drones are given below.
Tractor drones are industrial drones
equipped with powerful suspensors that
can be used to manipulate heavy
cargoes or construction materials or
grab, pull and smash apart buildings or
terrain.
Transporter drones are the equivalents of
carriers, cars and buses and fulfil the
same functions as conventional
transports. Although these have a role to
play in our games we’ll come back to
transporters when we develop the full
rules for vehicles.
Autonomous drones have stats the same
way as living troops.
DRONE MOVEMENT
For purposes of this basic version of the
Beyond the Gates of Antares game,
autonomous drones are either treated
exactly like other humanoids for
movement if they are humanoid
androids, or are assumed to be
propelled by suspensors: effectively
allowing them to float and hover
through the air. The following rules
apply to the hovering kind of weapon
drone.
Weapon drones move at the same rate
as ordinary troops (5” for an advance
and 10” for a run – they cannot sprint).
Because they float above obstacles and
other terrain, they can move over low
obstacles and hard going terrain
features up to 2” in height without
making an Ag test and without penalty
to their move distance. Taller terrain
features, including building walls, can be
crossed by drones as if they were
infantry crossing hard going terrain with
no Ag modifier, regardless of what the
terrain’s usual Ag modifier might be.
Unless they have gone down, drones
cannot claim modifiers to Acc from
intervening terrain because they float
above it, or from cover they are
within/behind for Res for the same
reason. However, if they go down they
can claim these modifiers in the same
way as infantry – indicating that they
have scurried into cover or behind terrain.
DRONES AND BREAK TESTS
Drone units never take break tests in the
usual way, but may have to take a break
test if they fail a Res roll as described
below. They are automatically broken if
they accumulate pins at least equal to
their command value, in the same way
as other units. At this point the drone’s
sense of self-preservation takes over
and it either shoots skyward into the
atmosphere or hurries rapidly from the
battlefield. In either case the model is
removed as a casualty.
WEAPON DRONES
A weapon drone is a drone that carries
one or more support or heavy weapons
as an integral feature. They usually take
the form of a suspensor body and
turreted weapon, but can be humanoid
or propelled in some other fashion. A
weapon drone is effectively a small
vehicle, but for now we count them as a
weapons team for rules purposes,
receipt of orders, and so on.
Many weapon drones carry a support or
heavy weapon. The drone needs no
crew to operate its weapon and always
shoots as if a full crew were present.
Some weapon drones carry two or more
weapons systems. In this case the drone
can fire each of its weapon systems, and
it can select a separate target for each
system if the player wishes.
Weapon drones have regular stats just
like other troops. They can use their
suspensors to ward off attacks in close
combat or to strike at enemies close by.
Their Resist value is always relatively
high, and often greater than 10.
However, note that any Res roll of a 10
will always fail regardless.
If a weapon drone fails its resist roll then
make a further D10 dice test to
determine the extent of damage
suffered. If an enemy unit’s attacks
causes multiple resist fails, then roll for
each and apply the highest score only,
e.g. with 4 resist fails and rolls of 2, 4, 6
and 9 apply the 9 = destroyed.
If the shooters SV is greater than 3 add
+1 to the dice roll, if greater than 6 add
+2, if greater than 9 add +3.
1 Add +1 additional pin marker
2-4 Add +D3 additional pin markers
and go down
5-7 Add+D5 additional pin markers
and take an immediate break test,
go down if this is passed
8-10 Destroyed
In the case of blast weapons where a hit
results in multiple hits and resist tests,
make only one resist roll – i.e. the
number of hits scored is always one for
purposes of working out shots against
weapon drones. Drones are encased in
armoured shells that are resistant to
blast damage.
Designers note
The rules for autonomous drones are
not finalised – several version have
been tried – these are a fairly ‘safe’
version included here as a
placeholder.
Full development of the rules for
vehicles is yet to be done, at which
point the rules for autonomous drones
will fall into line.
TARGETER PROBES
Probes are small hovering unarmed
drones surrounded by a cloud of sharded
nanobots. They are simple machines with
limited and specific intelligence. Targeter
probes exude nanobots that feed
information back to the parent probe,
which in turn sends its nanobots to
nearby friendly units, where they feed
information into the unit’s combat shard.
As spies in the sky, targeter probes guide
fire onto enemy positions.
Each targeter probe is treated as a unit in
its own right. However, regardless of how
many targeter probes your force has,
only one order dice is included. All your
targeter probes are activated with a
single order as if they were one unit (i.e.
when you move your targeter probes you
move them all at once). As targeters are
quite specialised the only thing they can
do when given an order is to move. The
order dice is placed next to one of the
probes to show that they have all done
so. It is convenient to place a Run order
simply to show the probes have moved.
Probes cannot make reactions at all.
Targeter probes move up to 10” and their
movement is unaffected by terrain: they
can move through or over terrain of any
kind without penalty. Note that although
a Run order is given, this is just a
convenience to facilitate moving the
probes, their move is not strictly
speaking a 2M run move and it is not
constrained by any of the rules that
affect run moves. They cannot increase
their move by making a ‘sprint’.
Targeter probes can be shot at but
cannot be assaulted (they would just
move out of the way!). Targeter probes
do not suffer pins. If a target is marked by
more than one targeter probe, then treat
all the marking probes as a single unit
when shooting at them– this means hits
are allocated amongst all the probes
evenly, even though they are otherwise
treated as separate units. If a targeter
probe is shot at and hit, roll against its
Res to destroy it. Targeter probes do not
benefit from intervening terrain
modifiers to Acc or cover modifiers to Res
– they hover above cover and they lack
any instinct to take cover.
A targeter probe can move to within 1”
of an enemy unit, and that unit is then
‘marked’ as a target. A targeter probe
can only mark one target at a time, but
up to three probes can mark the same
target. The target remains marked
whilst the targeter probe is within 1” of
at least one member of the unit. If a
probe or unit moves, or if a model from
the marked unit is removed as casualty,
such that a probe is more than 1” away,
then the unit ceases to be marked.
When shooting at an enemy unit that is
marked by your targeter probe, add +1
to the unit’s Acc for each probe marking
the unit. I.e, one probe +1, two probes
+2 and three or more probes +3. This
bonus applies to all weapons apart from
overhead (OH) weapons. In the case of
OH weapons, if the shot misses, the
distance the shot goes off target is
reduced by –1” for each targeter probe
marking the target.
Targetter probes are ignored when it
comes to working out whether a unit
has a clear shot – just treat them as if
they were not there. This is because
they are small aerial probes that are
constantly darting about and are far too
small to get in the way of a clear shot.
As you can see targeter drones are
unwelcome guests, like hovering vultures
attracting enemy fire and forcing you to
move on or die. Fortunately they are not
too difficult to destroy.
Basic Armoury 39
 Sample Armies
These sample armies are included to
give some idea of what a typical force
might look like as well as for purposes of
establishing basic forces for play testing
purposes. These sample armies will be
superseded by more complete lists in
due time; these will allow for more unit
choice, varying sizes of units, and points
values – as one might expect. The
armies are based upon the models so far
completed in the case of Boromites and
Algoryn, and projected outline design
plans for the remaining ranges.
Inevitably these will change as we
develop the game, and we will be
adding further unique and more unusual
units to every force over time. With that
in mind, players are encouraged to
adjust, embellish and combine the
sample armies to gain a better idea of
the relative strengths and qualities of
different forces.
The number of models in each force
should not prove too daunting a
proposition to anyone contemplating
building an army or using ‘proxies’ from
an existing collection. If you want to
start with smaller forces simply drop out
an equal number of units of comparable
types from each force: for example drop
Algoryn armoured infantry advance through dense terrain
40 Beyond the Gates of Antares
two standard infantry squads and a
support team. If you want to field bigger
forces simply add more units in the
same way.
STATS
The stats as given do not include any
bonuses from armour or equipment –
which will often vary according to
circumstance. So, a Concord Strike
trooper with a Res 5 and HL armour will
enjoy a Res value of 7 in most situations
(Res +2) before other modifiers are
taken into account.
Note that Targeter Probes have been
given a command value of 10. Although
they don’t suffer pins, and therefore
don’t normally need to test command,
there are some situations that call for it.
For example, in some scenarios a
command test is required when
entering the table.
CHARACTER RULES
In order to present playable armies we
have to jump ahead of ourselves a little
with special rules for unit leaders and
individual models, as these are not
otherwise included in the Antares basic
ruleset. These are summarised below.
INFANTRY UNIT LEADERS
All of the infantry units in these sample
armies include a specific leader model. In
some cases the leader model has the
same stats as the rest of his unit, and in
other cases he has a command and/or
Initiative stat that is +1 higher. This
reflects the difference between very
highly trained or experienced units,
which have a higher value throughout,
and other units, where the leader has a
higher value than his troops. Because the
higher value is always used when making
unit tests, units where the leader has a
higher value will become less effective if
the leader is killed. In the case of units
that have a higher value throughout, the
loss of the leader won’t affect the unit’s
stats; any trooper can step into the
leadership role, albeit without the special
leader rule given below.
Unit leaders don’t get to be in charge
without knowing a thing or two, and to
reflect their greater experience,
motivation and effectiveness we have a
special leader rule. Where this applies it
is indicated on the model’s stat line. If a
leader model fails a Res test, instead of
becoming a casualty re-roll the test, and
the model is only a casualty if this
second test is failed. A leader can only
re-roll one dice at a time, so if a leader
has suffered two hits and re-rolls the
first, he cannot re-roll the second. You
can take this re-roll each time the unit is
attacked and the leader is hit. This
makes the leader more likely to survive
a hit and militates against unlucky Res
rolls to some extent.
Note – that there are some other
circumstances and/or equipments that
allow models to re-roll a failed Res test –
notably a Medi-drone. When it comes to
re-rolls of Res results, we will make a
general rule as follows: you can never
re-roll a result that has already been re-
rolled. In other words, regardless of the
number of re-rolls you might be allowed
from different sources, you can only re-
roll a single failed Res roll once.
THE BUILDERS
A cycle of stories dating way back to the Xon times (Fourth Age) tells of how
when the race of Builders undertook the Last Journey some chose to remain
behind, making their abode in the heart of the star Antares. They called
themselves the Watchers, and from their fiery home they travelled
throughout Antarean space by means of its countless spaceways, observing
the rise of planets and the brief lives of new sentient species. According to
the longest and most complete of these stories, the Hu Qong’a – or Tale of
Qong – its eponymous hero came into the human universe, where he guided
explorers to many secrets and wonders, yet all the time cunningly led these
same explorers away from the greatest and most potent wonder of all –
which the story names the Heart of Eternity. Some have speculated that
these fanciful stories bear some germ of truth, and the remnants of the
Builders do indeed live on, watching and observing and perhaps even living
covertly amongst the peoples of Antarean space. Others dismiss such simple-
minded notions and point instead to the long tradition of imaginative and
allegorical literature in the Court of the Xon Emperors for an explanation.

COMMAND
A command unit is led by a commander
model. Commanders always have one or
both of the command and/or hero
special rules, as indicated on their stat
line. Some commanders also have the
action special rule, which enables them
to motivate other units nearly. In
addition, all commanders have a version
of the leader rule that enables them to
re-roll failed Res tests.
Command. If the commander model is
within 5” of another friendly unit, that
unit can use his command stat rather
than its own. Where two or more
commanders can potentially do this, use
the highest value.
Hero. If the commander model is within
5” of another friendly unit, that unit can
use his initiative stat rather than its own.
Where two or more commanders can
potentially do this, use the highest value.
Action. If the commander model makes
any action then, in addition to his own
unit making the appropriate action, any
friendly unit/s within 5” of the
commander, and which does not already
have an order, and which has no pins, can
make the same action assuming it is able
to do so. Take an order dice out of the
dice bag for each unit making an action
and place them aside to begin with. The
command unit must make its action first,
so take one order dice, activate the
command unit and work out its action in
full. Other units follow one after the
other, one at a time, in whatever
sequence the player wishes. Each unit
goes one at a time, just as if you had
drawn the order dice from the dice bag in
the regular manner. Bear in mind, a unit
that has pins can’t be given an order in
this way, and a unit that already has an
order can’t be given an order in this way
either. It doesn’t matter whether the
command unit itself has pins or not, as
these will affect its ability to make a
successful order test in the first place.
The advantage is that units act when you
want them to, all at once, in a
coordinated way. Note that a unit acting
in this way has to be given the same
order as the command unit, so it makes
the same action – i.e. run, fire, advance,
and so on. Otherwise, it is free to act as it
otherwise would if given the same order
independently. Similarly, each unit is
making a separate action; so enemy units
can potentially react to each unit in turn.
In all respects, this is exactly as if the
order dice had been drawn from the dice
bag and units activated one after the
other in the regular way.
Leader. All commanders have the leader
rule as already explained for unit leaders.
However, instead of only being allowed
to re-roll one hit at once, a commander
can re-roll either 2 or 3 hits at a time.
Note that this is 2 or 3 separate hits – not
the same hit 2 or 3 times! So, if a
commander with 3 re-rolls takes 3 hits
from enemy shooting, each Res test can
be re-rolled once, but if the commander
only suffers 1 hit he can only make 1 re-
roll. This value is included on the stat line
as leader 2 or leader 3.
NANODRONES
A nanodrone is a special kind of buddy
drone keyed to the brain patterns of an
individual NuHu. It exudes a cloud of
nanites that act as a permeable
forcefield, armour, and potentially as a
weapon. A NuHu protected by a
nanodrone has the bonuses indicated
below.
The following bonuses apply to the
NuHu so long as the nanodrone remains
part of the command unit. If the
nanodrone is destroyed these bonuses
no longer apply.
Attack (shoot). The nanites generate a
condensed energy bolt – treated as a
single shot with strike value of 3 and
range of 10”. Optionally – strike value 6
and range can be boosted to 20” but the
nanodrone is then temporarily
exhausted and bonuses cease to apply
until the unit is given its next order.
Deflect. The nanites generate a
defensive shell around the NuHu,
increasing the individual’s Res value by
+3. Optionally – the Res value can be
boosted to +6 for the remainder of the
turn, but the nanodrone is then
temporarily exhausted and bonuses
cease to apply until the unit is given its
next order.
Grapple (hand-to-hand). The nanites
energise around the NuHu forming a
deadly sheath of power. This increases
the NuHu’s Str and/or Ag by +3.
Optionally – Str and/or Ag can be
boosted to +6 for the remainder of the
turn, but the nanodrone is then
temporarily exhausted and bonuses
cease to apply until the unit is given its
next order.

Sample Armies 41
 ALGORYN ARMOURED INFANTRY COMPANY
The Algoryn have been engaged in almost constant warfare against the Ghar for hundreds of years and their military forces are
amongst the most battle-hardened troops in all Antarean space. Algoryn are amongst the toughest and most hardy of all
humans and the Armoured Infantry (AI) are the elite of their forces.

1 x ALGORYN AI COMMAND TEAM

AI Command Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x AI Commander: plasma carbine, 5 5 5 6 7 9 Command,
X-sling and reflex armour Action, Leader 2
2 x AI Trooper: plasma carbine and reflex armour 5 5 5 6 7 841 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

3 x ALGORYN AI SQUADS

AI Squad Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special

1 x AI Leader: mag pistol, X-sling and reflex armour 5 5 5 6 7 8 Leader
2 x AI Trooper: mag gun and reflex armour 5 5 5 6 7 8 -
1 x AI Trooper: mag repeater and reflex armour 5 5 5 6 7 8 -
1 x AI Trooper: micro-X launcher and reflex armour 5 5 5 6 7 8 -

1 x ALGORYN AI INFILTRATION SQUADS

AI Infiltration Squad Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x AI Leader: mag pistol, X-sling and reflex armour 5 5 5 6 7 8 Leader
4 x AI Trooper: mag repeater and reflex armour 5 5 5 6 7 8 -
2 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

2 x ALGORYN AI TEAM WITH MAG LIGHT SUPPORT

AI Mag LS Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
2 x AI Trooper Crew: mag pistol and reflex armour 5 5 5 6 7 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

1 x ALGORYN AI TEAM WITH X-LAUNCHER

AI X-Launcher Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
2 x AI Trooper Crew: mag pistol and reflex armour 5 5 5 6 7 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

42 Beyond the Gates of Antares

1 x ALGORYN AI TEAM WITH PLASMA CANNON
AI Plasma Cannon Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
2 x AI Trooper Crew: mag pistol and reflex armour 5 5 5 6 7 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

2 x TARGETER PROBES
Targeter Probe Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Targeter Probe - - - 5 - 10 -

THE MHAGRIS – FIGHTERS OF THE FREEBORN ARMIES OF THE

OSZON MERCANTILE LEAGUE
The Mhagris fighters retain the amongst the younger warriors brought worlds throughout the Spill. The
trappings of their primitive warrior up entirely under the rule of the weaponry illustrated here is perhaps
society, together with the essential Oszoni, such inconvenient gestures of not standard Concord design, but has
technology that equips them to fight in native pride are becoming increasingly the common bipartite construction of a
the Oszoni forces. These examples of rare. Many of the upcoming generation plasma carbine, which would be a very
Mhagris demonstrate the continuing have abandoned the ways of their prestigious weapon indeed amongst
use of low-level native technologies in ancestors altogether, to merge Freeborn forces. The prosthetic shown
addition to the basic equipment imperceptibly into the lower orders of here is visibly primitive, and such
provided by the Oszoni and what other the Freeborn. tokens of barbarism are perhaps not
gear they can scavenge from the now as commonly seen as once they
These drawings show something of the
battlefield. Many Mhagris wear the were, but do serve to give an idea of
appearance of the Mhagris – and are
mark of their feral culture with pride, the more outlandish appearance of
maybe typical of the kind of Freeborn
and fiercely maintain a distinct and these troopers.
mercenary troops recruited from feral
peculiar religion, the details of which
they refuse to share with non-Mhagris.
The Oszoni care little what their client-
peoples choose to wear, knowing that
the barbaric appearance of peoples
such as the Mhagris is often enough to
see off feint-hearted enemies without
a fight! Tales of headhunting, torture
and cannibalism may have little basis
in reality, but only serve to enhance the
Mhagris’ fighting reputation and are
not discouraged.
As primitive humans the Mhagris have
little to fear from contact with Isorian
or Concord technology. Some of the
more farsighted have turned their
backs upon the olds ways, even going
so far as to suffer the surgical
implantation of tech interfaces, but
most regard such things with
superstitious fear. Indeed, it is not
uncommon for Mhagris to endure
physical wounds that could easily be
regenerated at a modest cost,
preferring to bear their scars and
mutilations as a sign of their devotion
to battle. Relatively primitive
mechanical prosthetics are one of the
marks of Mhagris culture, although

Sample Armies 43
 BOROMITE LABOUR GUILD
The Boromites can be found throughout
Antarean space. They form a specialised
work force adapted to hard and dangerous BOROMITE WEAPONS
tasks in hostile environments. Itinerant and
naturally insular, they have no organised Type of Range Strike Value Special Rules
armies, but Boromite Guilds will take up weapon Effective Long Extreme
arms to defend their own, and sometimes
to take what they believe belongs to them. • HAND WEAPONS
The Boromites make use of weapons Lectro Lash Hand-to-hand only 1 3 attacks
adapted from their work tools. Most
Tractor Maul Hand-to-hand only 2 2 attacks
notably the Mass Compactor – a short
ranged compression weapon (minimum Lavamite Spit Point blank shooting only 2
10” range does not apply to this weapon),
the Frag Borer – an especially powerful but • STANDARD WEAPONS
short ranged version of the Fractal Cannon, Mass 10 20 30 3/2/1 Compression
the Tractor Maul, a development of a Compactor weapon, No cover
sampler tool that is extremely effective in
hand-to-hand fighting, and the Lectro-
• SUPPORT WEAPONS
Lash primarily used for disciplining the
savage Lavamite ‘Rock Dog’ creatures that Frag Borer 20 30 60 3 (+1 max 10) Fractal weapon
Boromites use to search out ores.
• HEAVY WEAPON
Lavamites. Lavamites are living creatures
but they are fitted with implants that allow Heavy Frag
the Boromites to direct them in a drone- Borer 20 30 60 6 (+1 max 10) Fractal weapon
like manner – they are used in mining
operations to explore for minerals. Their
natural ability to tunnel through solid rock
in search of the ores upon which they feed makes them useful to the Boromites. By using Lavamites instead of more sophisticated
drones the Boromites can also keep many of their less savoury operations secret from the IMTel of others.

Lavamites are members of their unit and have their own stats. Their chief
value is as assault units – because Lavamites are ferocious and extremely
dangerous – at least they are when goaded by Boromite implants! If their
handler is killed they can still function as a unit – but their low command
stat will tend to tell against them. Lavamites have an accuracy value –
this is used to spit molten lava – which they can point blank fire during an
assault. They cannot otherwise shoot. Lava spits have +2 strike value – as
per Lavamite hand-to-hand attacks. Note that spits don't get the +1 Acc
bonus for hand-weapons at short range - we treat spits as a standard
weapon in this respect.

1 x BOROMITE OVERSEER TEAM

Overseer Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Overseer: plasma carbine, tractor maul 4 5 6 6 6 10 Command, Action,
and reflex armour Leader 2
2 x Gangers: plasma carbine and reflex armour 4 5 6 6 6 9
1 x Spotter Drone: - - - - - -

44 Beyond the Gates of Antares

1 x BOROMITE LAVAMITES
Lavamites Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Boromite Handler: lectro-lash,
plasma pistol and reflex armour 4 5 6 6 6 9 Leader
3 x Lavamite savage beasties! 4 7 7 8 6 5 3 h2h attacks, +2 SV

2 x BOROMITE GANG FIGHTERS

Gang Fighters Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special

1 x Gang Leader: mag pistol, lectro-lash and reflex armour 4 5 6 6 6 9 Leader
4 x Ganger: mag gun and reflex armour 4 5 6 6 6 9

2 x BOROMITE WORK GANGS

Work Gang Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Gang Leader: mag pistol and mass compactor 4 5 6 6 6 9 Leader
4 x Ganger: mass compactor 4 5 6 6 6 9

1 x BOROMITE TEAM WITH MAG LIGHT SUPPORT

Mag LS Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
2 x Ganger Crew: mag pistols 4 5 6 6 6 9

1 x BOROMITE TEAM WITH X-LAUNCHER

X-Launcher Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
2 x Ganger Crew: mag pistols 4 5 6 6 6 9
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - -

1 x BOROMITE TEAM WITH HEAVY FRAG BORER

Heavy Frag Borer Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Team Leader: mag pistol 4 5 6 6 6 9 Leader
2 x Ganger Crew 4 5 6 6 6 9
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - -

Sample Armies 45
 CONCORD STRIKE FORCE
A concord strike force is made up of C3 Strike Troopers – the best armed, equipped and trained solders in the entire Concord.
They are ably supported by buddy drones and drone mounted heavy weaponry.
Note that the Concord and Isorian strike forces are effectively mirrors of each other – and this is entirely deliberate: both are
similarly organised and equipped, and the two are intended to form a close match.

1 x C3 STRIKE COMMAND TEAM

C3 Strike Command Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Strike Commander: plasma carbine, Command, Action,
X-sling and HL armour 5 6 5 5 7 9 Leader 2
2 x Strike Trooper: plasma carbine and HL Armour 5 6 5 5 7 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

4 x C3 STRIKE SQUADS
C3 Strike Squad Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Strike Leader: plasma carbine, X-sling and HL armour. 5 5 5 5 7 8 Leader
4 x Strike Trooper: plasma carbine and HL Armour 5 5 5 5 7 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

1 x C3 SUPPORT DRONE WITH PLASMA LIGHT SUPPORT

C3 Plasma Light Support Drone Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Weapon Drone: plasma light support gun 7 6 1 10 8 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

1 x C3 SUPPORT TEAM WITH X-LAUNCHER

C3 X-Launcher Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
2 x Strike Trooper Crew: plasma pistol and HL Armour 5 5 5 5 7 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

1 x C3 SUPPORT DRONE WITH PLASMA CANNON

C3 Plasma Cannon Drone Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Weapon Drone: plasma cannon 7 6 1 10 8 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone: - - - - - - -

4 x TARGETER PROBES
Targeter Probe Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Targeter Probe - - - 5 - 10 -

46 Beyond the Gates of Antares

 CONCORD TASK FORCE
A concord task force is an armed exploration team led by a NuHu and supported by armed troops of various kinds – in our example
we have including Freeborn mercenary fighters as well as a core of strike troopers. A task force is not as heavily equipped as a strike
force and its objectives may not be strictly military at all. We’ve included the task force to illustrate something of the breadth of
forces available to the Concord, and because we wanted to include a NuHu to give a taste of their abilities.

1 x NUHU MANDARIN COMMAND TEAM

NuHu Command Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x NuHu Mandarin: plasma pistol 5 6 4 4 9 9 Command, Hero,
Action, Leader 3
1 x Nanodrone - - - - - -
2 x Spotter Drone - - - - - -

1 x C3 COMMAND TEAM
C3 Command Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Strike Commander: plasma carbine, Command,
X-sling and HL armour. 5 6 5 5 7 9 Action, Leader 2
2 x C3 Strike Trooper: plasma carbine and HL Armour 5 6 5 5 7 8
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - -

1 x FREEBORN MERCENARY COMMAND TEAM

Mercenary Command Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Mercenary captain: compression carbine, 5 6 5 5 8 9 Command,
plasma pistol and HL armour. Hero, Action, Leader 2
2 x Mercenary troopers: plasma carbine and HL armour 5 6 5 5 7 8
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - -

1 x C3 SQUAD
C3 Strike Squad Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Strike Leader: plasma carbine, X-sling and HL armour. 5 5 5 5 7 8 Leader
4 x Strike Trooper: plasma carbine and HL Armour 5 5 5 5 7 8
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - -

1 x C3 SUPPORT DRONE WITH PLASMA CANNON

C3 Plasma Cannon Drone Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Weapon Drone: plasma cannon 7 6 1 10 8 8
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - -

3 x FREEBORN MERCENARY SQUADS

Freeborn Mercenary Squad Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Leader: mag repeater and reflex armour 5 5 5 5 7 7 Leader
4 x Mercenary Trooper: mag gun and reflex armour 5 5 5 5 7 7
1 x Mercenary Trooper: micro-X launcher and reflex armour 5 5 5 5 7 7

1 x FREEBORN MERCENARY SUPPORT TEAM WITH MAG LIGHT SUPPORT

Mercenary Mag Light Support Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
2 x Mercenary Trooper Crew: mag pistol and reflex armour 5 5 5 5 7 8
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - -

1 x FREEBORN MERCENARY SUPPORT TEAM WITH X-LAUNCHER

Mercenary X-Launcher Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
2 x Mercenary Trooper Crew: mag pistol and reflex armour 5 5 5 5 7 8
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - -

Sample Armies 47
 ISORIAN SHARD STRIKE FORCE
An Isorian Shard Strike Force comprises Senatex Phase troopers armed with distinctive Isorian bio-tech equipment. These
are the elite strike units of the Isorian Shard and man-for-man a match for the best troops in the Concord. They are
supported by buddy drones and drone mounted heavy weaponry.
Note that the Concord and Isorian strike forces are effectively mirrors of each other – and this is entirely deliberate: both are
similarly organised and equipped, and the two are intended to form a close match. We have not included an Isorian task
force as a separate example, but one might easily be constructed by replacing the C3 strike units in the Concord force with
equivalent Senatex units from this one.

1 x SENATEX COMMAND TEAM

Senatex Command Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Senatex Commander: plasma carbine, Command,
X-sling and phase armour 5 6 5 5 7 9 Action, Leader 2
2 x Senatex Trooper: plasma carbine and phase armour 5 6 5 5 7 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

4 x SENATEX SQUADS
Senatex Squad Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Senatex Leader: plasma carbine,
X-sling and phase armour 5 5 5 5 7 8 Leader
4 x Senatex Trooper: plasma carbine and phase armour 5 5 5 5 7 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

1 x SENATEX SUPPORT DRONE WITH PLASMA LIGHT SUPPORT

Senatex Plasma Light Support Drone Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Weapon Drone: plasma light support gun 7 6 1 10 8 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone: unarmed - - - - - - -

1 x SENATEX SUPPORT TEAM WITH X-LAUNCHER

Senatex X-Launcher Team Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
2 x Senatex Trooper Crew: plasma pistol and phase armour 5 5 5 5 7 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

1 x SENATEX SUPPORT DRONE WITH FRACTAL CANNON

Senatex Fractal Cannon Drone Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Weapon Drone: fractal cannon 7 6 1 10 8 8 -
1 x Spotter Drone - - - - - - -

4 x TARGETER PROBES
Targeter Probe Ag Acc Str Res Init Co Special
1 x Targeter Probe - - - 5 - 10 -

48 Beyond the Gates of Antares

Quick Reference Sheet
ORDERS ACCURACY MODIFIERS
1. Fire Shoot without moving (may use Aimed Shot or RF) The following modifiers apply to a
2. Advance Move and then shoot. unit’s Acc when shooting.
3. Run Move at increased speed without shooting. Per Pin -1
4. Ambush No move/shoot, but wait for opportunity to react.
5. Rally No move/shoot, but lose D6 pin markers. Effective Range +1
(Hand weapons only)
6. Down No move/shoot, but more difficult to hit.
Long Range -1
Pinned units test Co at -1 per pin:
Pass Act on Order & remove 1 pin. Extreme Range -2
Fail Remove 1 pin and receive ‘Down’ order. Intervening Low Obstacle -1
Intervening Light Terrain -2
MOVES Aimed Fire (Fire order only) +1
In the basic game all infantry have a basic move (M) of 5 inches and Run move (2M) Rapid Fire (Fire order only) -1
of 10 inches. Units (not Support or Hvy Wpns) with a ’Run’ order can ‘Sprint’ at (3M),
then test Ag or receive pin marker for exhaustion. Overhead Fire (OH weapons) -2

AGILITY TEST FOR TERRAIN Each crew short of full team -1

Units must test Ag if moving through hard going terrain (Advance or Run) and are Heavy weapon out of arc -2
reduced to half pace if they fail the roll.
Units can cross obstacles (Advance) without testing, but must test Ag to cross at a A full weapons team is 2 for support
Run. If this test is failed they halt behind the obstacle (Heavy teams can only attempt and 3 for heavy weapons. Weapons
to cross at Advance with an Ag test). drones count as a full team.

Support weapon team -1

Heavy weapon team -2
Each crewman short -1 RESIST STAT MODIFERS
Hard Going 0 The following modifiers apply to
Very Hard Going -1 Res when hit.
Extra Hard Going -2
Strike value of weapon -SV
Resist Bonus of Armour +RB
Cover (default +2) +1, 2 or 3
ASSAULTS
Point Blank. Both the attacker and defender shoot point blank simultaneously. Place Cover value applies to individual
pin markers and take any break tests resulting. models that are within/behind cover
Hand-to-hand fighting. Both the attack and defender fight simultaneously – using relative to models shooting at
Strength ‘to score hits’. After fighting add 1 pin marker to each unit that has suffered them.
one or more casualties, and add a further 1 pin marker for each casualty suffered. The
side with the most pins loses and must take a break test.
Follow on Combat.Where both sides survive the winner can force a round of follow
on combat. In the case of a draw surviving opponents can fight a follow-on round of BREAK TESTS
hand-to-hand fighting by mutual consent. Test against Command. Units with
pins equal to or more than Command
Consolidation. Surviving units can make a consolidation move.
stat are broken without a test.

Triggers
REACTIONS • One or more pins per model
Go Down Auto when shot at (Fire or Advance) Down order when shot at and hit.
Stand and Shoot vs Run when assaulted Fire order • Suffers half own number of
Escape vs Run when assaulted Run order casualties from shooting
Firefight vs Fire at up to 20” Fire order • Defeated or draw in
Dash to Cover vs Fire at more than 20” (not-OH) Run order hand-to-hand fighting
Ambush vs Advance or run Fire/Ambush

Quick Reference Sheet 49

 Scenario
So far we have not covered the basics of how to set up a game, determine objectives, deploy forces, fix how long
the game lasts, or work out which side has won. These things are not part of the core rules of play as such – they are
things that vary depending on what kind of game is to be played – in other words, the scenario. For purposes of this
initial rule set we will assume that players are familiar enough with this sort of thing to be able to improvise
scenarios for themselves. To help things along a straightforward scenario is described below: Disputed Ground.

DISPUTED GROUND
Opposing forces advance against each indicate the area described). Terrain table edge. The unit has to be placed on
other in an attempt to take control of the areas must be placed at least 5" apart and the table in its entirety and in formation.
local area. Each side must try to capture at least 5" from any table edge – this is to His opponent then places one of his units,
the battlefield and destroy the enemy. ensure the terrain is spread about a bit. and then players alternate placing units
until both side’s forces are on the table.
If you wish you can set the terrain up in a
Preparing to play mutually agreeable manner, but the If a player’s force includes targeter
The table is imagined to be 6 feet across recommended method is to take it in probes then all the targeter probes are
its long edges and 4 feet across the short turns placing one piece of terrain at a placed along the table edge at the same
or ‘side’ edges. Players are welcome to time (roll a dice to decide who goes first). time and count as one ‘pick’. However, it
play on tables of any size they want, and Once all the terrain has been placed roll is not necessary to deploy targeter
are encouraged to do so, but for randomly to decide which player starts probes in formation, just place them
purposes of explaining how this scenario from which long edge. You can just pick where you want within 5" of the table
works we’ll go with our standard six by an edge if you prefer, but rolling edge.
four table. randomly is a good way of encouraging
This game pitches two forces against the players to build the battlefield in as
each other, and we’d suggest players even-handed way as possible.
None know what lies beyond the
choose two forces from the sample Once you have figured out which player gates of Antares: past, present and
armies section, reducing the number of starts from which long table edge, each future: the beginning of all things,
infantry squads by half (rounding up if player rolls a dice and the highest scorer and the end of everything.
necessary) and dropping any one support places one of his units within 5" of his
weapon team. No buddy drones (e.g.
spotters) are used in this scenario, and
the number of targeter probes is reduced
to 2 where available. This is just to make
the game more manageable for
inexperienced players. By all means add
more troops, drones and probes to both
sides once player are familiar with the
basic rules of the game.
You will need at least eight terrain pieces
– but these can be very simple, rocks out
of the garden or patches of rubble made
from gravel chips, for example. We would
suggest each piece of terrain covers an
area between 4" and 6" square. Set up
the table with the terrain features
arranged around the centre of the
battlefield, leaving a square area 15" x 15"
in the middle (see set-up diagram). Mark
the corners of this square using small
pieces of incidental scenery such as small
rocks or a clump of vegetation (these Table set up – with terrain arranged in a typical manner and a clear area in the middle of the table. To
play no part in the game other than to start the game the players deploy their units into the opposing set up areas along the long table edges.

50 Beyond the Gates of Antares

Rules for Terrain
If you have not played before, or if you
are introducing new players to the
game, treat all the terrain as
impassable, meaning that neither side
can move through it at all. We strongly
recommend that beginners use either
very large rocks or ruinous but
substantial buildings, so that the terrain
areas are not only impassable but also
block lines of sight across them. This will
introduce players to the line of sight
rules without worrying about the rules
for working out clear shots through or
over terrain or obstacles. You can always
replace terrain features with low
rubbled areas, vegetation or other
accessible areas of terrain in future
games.
Objective
Both sides have the same objective –
occupy the central square and drive
away or destroy the enemy. The game
doesn’t require a specific ‘thing’ to be
the objective, but you might like to
imagine that the players are fighting
over access to a transmat pad,
possession of a crashed transporter
craft, the entrance to an underground
base or refuge, the abandoned treasure
trove of an ancient society, or a cache of
life-saving bio-drugs or other vital
supplies.
Game Duration
If at least one side has lost half or more
of its units at the start of a turn then roll
a dice (D6). On a result of 1, 2 or 3 the
game ends, on a roll of 4, 5 or 6 play one
further turn.
If neither side has lost half or more of its
units by the end of turn 6 then roll a dice
(D6). On a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game
ends, on a roll of 4, 5 or 6 play one
further turn.
For purposes of deciding whether half of
an army’s units are lost always ignore
targeter probes; this applies both when
working out how many is ‘half’ and
when counting up the units that are left.
Otherwise, round halves ‘up’, for
example half of 5 units is 3 not 2, so an
army of 5 units has lost half once it has
lost 3 units.
Victory
Each unit positioned within the 15"x15"
central square at the end of the game,
earns you 1 victory point – at least one
model from the unit must be entirely
within the area to count. Targeter
probes don’t count.
Each enemy unit destroyed earns you 1
victory point. Once again Targeter
probes don’t count.
The side with the most victory points is
the winner. A difference of 2 or more
victory points is a clear victory. A
difference of just 1 point is a close call,
which we will consider a winning draw.
Equal scores is a draw.
Expanding the Scenario
The easiest way of expanding the scope
of this scenario is by substituting the
impassable/LOS blocking terrain for
more terrain of different types. It is
suggested that players do this once they
have a fair grasp of the line-of-sight
rules and basic mechanics. Similarly, you
can play with larger forces, and/or over a
larger table, and all these factors will
change the game dynamic and how the
scenario plays.
A second way changing the scenario is
not to deploy on the table at the start of
the game, and instead to allow players
to move each unit onto the table in the
first turn by giving it an advance or run
order. A unit can begin its move at any
point along its long table edge. A unit
that runs onto the table in its first turn
cannot make an assault as it does so. A
unit that runs onto the table in its first
turn can sprint if you wish. A further
variation along these lines is to put only
half of each side’s order dice (rounding
up) in the dice bag for the first turn, so
that only half of each force can move
onto the table in the first turn. Then put
the remaining dice in the dice bag for
turn two, allowing any units not already
on the table to move on in the second
turn. In all cases, all of a side’s targeter
probes are deployed at once (because
they are represented by one order dice),
but individual probes are moved
separately and can begin at different
points on the table edge if preferred.
If you want to get more people involved
you can also introduce multi-player
games.
Split down each side into two or three
smaller forces, each with their own units
and distinct colour action dice. As you
pull an action dice from the dice bag,
the individual player it belongs to gets
to use it. A player wins if his side wins
regardless of his individual contribution
or even if all of his units have been
destroyed.
You can also change the objective. For
example, instead of capturing the
central area of the table, position a
number of markers on the table in some
fashion, and at the end of the game if
one side has at least one unit within 5"
of the marker and the other side
doesn’t, then the marker is captured
and earns 1 point. If both sides have
units within 5" of the marker neither
gets any victory points. Such markers
can be placed along the middle of the
table, so they are equidistant from both
sides, or players can arrange markers
before table edges are determined
randomly to encourage even
handedness as far as possible. Of
course, it is not necessary that both
sides have the same objective, you
could give one side the objective of
moving off the opposing table edge
whilst the other side has to stop them.
You don’t even need an objective at all if
you prefer not to – just fight it out until
the game is done.
As you can imagine there are many
ways in which even this very simple
scenario can be used as the basis for a
game, and players are encouraged to
adapt things as they find convenient or
make up entirely new scenarios of their
own if they prefer.
TRANSKIN
A transkin or T-skin is a film of null
material spun practically instantly
from a hypermat capsule no larger
than the tip of your little finger. The
material itself can be any colour or
transparent. It forms around a
person’s nano substructure – as all
civilised worlds are integrated
societies and the cell structure of
every citizen is suffused with active
nanites. A transkin is designed to
encase the wearer in a temporary
protective shell formed by gravitic
reaction between the skin’s null-
material and the wearer’s nanite
field. This reaction burns itself out
after a few minutes but endows the
transkin wearer with a steel-like
skin that can resist most forms of
attack. The same type of defence is
called a neoskin or null skin on
some human worlds.
Scenario 51
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